Naung MinThu

NarinjaraNews, 26 May 2024

The Arakan  Army (AA) is intensifying its offensive to capture the entireMaungdaw region of Rakhine  State, while the military junta used waterwaysto bolster their reinforcements, said local residents.

Moreover,the junta forces and armed Muslims have taken their positions in residentialareas including in religious buildings to resist the AA offensive.

"Thejunta soldiers and armed Muslims are stationed in Maung Ni village-tract,Kanyin Tan village-tract, number 5 ward Aye Tar Li Yar village-tract and ShweZar village-tract. They are using schools along with the religious buildingsinside the town," added a resident.

The borderguard personnel, who fled from the border guard stations in northern Maungdaw, are also stationed in those villages along with the armed Muslims.

"Mostborder guard personnel do not want to fight. If the AA fighters attack theirbases, they will run away. Currently, Maungdaw has not witnessed any gunfighting at this moment inside the town areas. The gunshots were heard from the5th border guard police battalion at the town's entry point. The AA fightershave besieged the town," stated the resident.

The AAfighters have encircled Maungdaw from the east, north and south. A Muslimresident informed that the military junta is reinforcing their presence toprevent Maungdaw from falling into the hands of AA.

Themilitary is sending reinforcements through the waterways almost every day. On20 May, two landing craft arrived, following which two more landing craft cameon the night of 22 May.

On 22 May, the 5th border guard police battalion and  2nd border guard policebattalion were reinforced with five vehicles carrying soldiers and fivevehicles with artillery shells, which were transported by two landing craft. On20 May,  five vehicles carrying artillery shells were transported by twolanding craft to reinforce the 5th border guard police battalion, while thesoldiers were reinforced at Kanyin Chaung economic zone.

"Toprevent Maungdaw from falling, the junta has exerted control over Muslimsoldiers and ARSA members. The access to the town's entry and exit points hasbeen restricted. Any individual found attempting to do so is being arrested andeven shot at," added the Muslim resident.

Fearingthat the AA fighters might attack Maungdaw soon, some residents have left theirplaces for safer shelters.