Narinjara News, 12March 2023

The military council troops and the subordinate policeforces are collectively joiningpublic awareness programs in rural areas belongingto Kyaukphyu township of Rakhine State urging the locals to avoid engaging with the United Leagueof Arakan (ULA) and its armed wingArakan Army (AA) during the ceasefire period.

Presently, a group of 30 soldiers and police personnel areroaming around the villages of Zinchaung since February to encouragethe villagers to go to the policestations rather than getting involved withthe ULA whenever a crime takes place, informed a resident of Wat
Taw Pyin Kyee Tway village under Zinchaung district.

"They addressed the villagers in various monasteriesand asked them not to contact theULA. They also provided medical treatments to the villagers and then propagated their ideas,” he added.

The group visited villages like Wat Taw Pyin Kyee Tway, WatTaw Pyin Kone Bao, A Lal Thit, KinPin Le Nar, and Kin Aung Zayya, etc.

Sometimes, they served Mohinga, a traditional cuisine, tothe participants. The troops camefrom the Kyaukphyu-based 34th infantry battalion of the military council.

“The movement of soldiers also scared many villagers as theymay detain or arrest more ofthem,” said a resident of Wat Taw Pyin KyeeTway.

Another resident assumed that the soldiers and policepersonnel were campaigning with inan aim to improve their public images.

On the 27 February press conference by ULA/AA leaders,spokesperson U Khaing Thu Khanoted that the Rakhine State, which is presently experiencing a relative peaceful ambience, has been witnessingthe evil design of military rulersin various townships like Taungup and
Thandwe where thy termed ULA/AA as illegal entities.

He issued a stern warning that if the military council doesnot stop its propaganda againstULA/AA, the conflict may erupt once again in the region.

“If the Myanmar army does not desist from such actions, andthe situationdeteriorates further, it could potentially escalate into armed conflict at any given moment,” hestated.

The military government and AA leaders ceased the hostilities, but in 2022 the armed conflicts erupted againleading to intense gunfightings atleast for four months.

Later Yohei Sasakawa, the Japanese government’s special representative, on 26 November reachedboth parties for an informal ceasefireagreement.
However, the military council continues harassing the Rakhine people in various forms. Moreover, the locals alleged thatadditional deployment of troopsand ammunition also seen in Rakhine State in recent days.