Narinjara News, 6 August 2024

Myanmar's military junta chief senior general Min AungHlaing has accused the Arakan Army (AA) leaders of causing harm to theirpeople.

In a speech delivered on 5 July last, while addressingthe national security council, Min Aung Hlaing stated that on  13 November 2023, the AA fighters raided and attacked the Done Pike border guardoutpost in Arakan State to  create instability.

“They later attacked the military camps and basesresponsible for the local security disrupting the socio-economic structure,education and health of local people. As a result, the residents fled toYangon, Nay Pyi Taw and other cities. Towns in both northern and southernArakan are facing heavy attacks. As  90 percent Arakanese live in Arakan,the AA  actions are harming their own people,” he added,

Despite these accusations, the AA remains an ethnicarmed organization with significant public support in the Arakan region.Various analysts note that the AA is one of the important armed resistancegroups in Myanmar with momentous public sympathies.

Till date, the  AA fighters have  occupiedeight townships of  Arakan State along with the Paletwa region. They aremaintaining  attacks on Maung Shwe Lay naval base while holding Thandwe, adistrict-level town in southern Arakan State, and they are preparing to bringthe township under their control.

Additionally, the AA has taken over all border guardstations in Maungdaw and has been intensifying its offensive to captureMaungdaw and other remaining stations including the 5th border guard policebattalion (NaKhaKha-5).

Even though the AA fighters continue capturing juntacamps and towns in Arakan State, the  junta chief Min Aung Hlaing claimedthat the military junta will collaborate with the people to restore peace andstability in the region.