Narinjara News, 20 January 2023

The military council  chairman senior general Min Aung Hlaingand Thailand royal army chief generalChalermpol Srisawat have arrivedat Rakhine’s Thandwe  amidst tightsecurity arrangements in themorning hours of Thursday.

Both the military leaders are attending the 7thThailand-Myanmar high levelcommittee meeting, which is scheduled to be held at a Ngapali beach till 21 January.

According to local witnesses, senior general Min Aung Hlaing and Thai general ChalermpolSrisawat  arrived with their military airplanes at Mazin airport at around 10 am.

“A large number of security forces are being deployedeverywhere along the roadconnecting the airport and Ngapali beach. There were many vehicles on the road as they came outfrom the airport. Local people werenot allowed to walk on the road during that period,” said the local residents.

Regarding the meet, the Thai representative revealed that it is a regular discussion aiming to increasemilitary cooperation between the twoneighbouring countries and finally to maintain the security and peace along the border localities.

A Thandwe resident informed that the security net was verytight in both Thandwe and Ngapali areas.
“In earlier occasions, when the Presidents or heads of theState came, they usually kept openthe vehicle windows to greet thepeople on the road. Now, there isa change, and all the cars are filled withsecurity forces. It may be because of extreme security concerns,” he added.
After completion of the ongoing 8th meeting in Thandwethe next one is expected to beorganised in Thailand
A source close to the Rakhine State government informed thatpremier Dr Aung Kyaw Min alongwith many State ministers and military council officers had arrived in Thandwe three days before the meeting.
The security scenario is satisfactory till now, as theArakan Army (AA) has not operatedin all areas of Thandwe district. But many AA members had already entered into the district.

 The government forces are engaging in crack down operations and the authoritiesremain busy in picking up AA supportersand even putting many of them in prisons.