The Burma Affairs & Conflict Study (BACS) has disclosed thatthe military regime, encountering challenges in the ongoing Rakhine resurgenceconflict, has been intensifying its efforts to spread propaganda against theArakan Army (AA) more than other resistance organizations.

BACS has monitored 12 of the junta's propaganda channels on aweekly basis and found that most of the propaganda content included attacks onthe AA members, portraying the revolutionary forces as engaged in terroractivities. They also pursued propaganda relating to the arrest & deaths ofmembers belonging to these forces.

Since the AA operations expanded after 13 November, the juntalobbies have identified it as the culprit for the increasing number ofcasualties, displacing civilians and food shortages, added the statement

Lately, the AA leaders have been identified as culprits in themilitary regime's nationwide crackdown against the drug peddlers. Interviewswith drug suspects included accusations against the AA members, claiming theirinvolvement in drug distribution booths in Rakhine State and other parts of the country.

TheAA responded to junta's accusations regarding illegal drugs by asserting thatthe junta forces are incapable of engaging in ground combat and hence they areresorting to disseminating false information to the common people.

On 24 December, the Mrauk-U archaeological museum and otherRakhine historical heritages suffered damages due to shelling of 540th & 378th light infantry battalion and 31st border guard police battalionbased in Mrauk-U, operating under the junta's 9th military operations command(MOC-9). Despite this, the junta's propaganda channels attributed the damage tothe Mrauk-U archaeological museum to shelling by the AA members.

Furthermore, the junta has disseminated propaganda saying that theAA members attacked and looted Ramree general hospital and Mrauk-U generalhospital.

During cyclone Mocha, the AA leaders were portrayed as beingpro-war, disruptors of peace in the region, and unsympathetic to the well-beingof the Rakhine people. Moreover, the  ongoing conflict in the Paletwaregion led to the portrayal of AA as responsible for causing harm to the Chinpeople, said the BACS statement.

During the temporary ceasefire in 2022, there was a significantdecrease in propaganda war against the AA. However in 2023, particularly duringOperation 1027 and resurgent fighting in Rakhine State, the propaganda effortswere increased  more targeting the AA specifically.