Narinjara News, 19 August 2024

The Arakan Army (AA) has released a statement on thecurrent offensive to capture Maungdaw town of Arakan State. On 18 August, the AA fightersasked the residents to evacuate by 16 June just ahead of the gun battle tocapture the town. Some residents followed the notice and left, but many othersremained in their places.

Those staying include-supporters of the militaryjunta, armed Muslim groups backed by the junta, terrorist organizations likeARSA, RSO, ARA, etc, family members associated with these groups, residentsused as human shields by the junta (and the extremist organizations) andindividuals who disobeyed the notice.

The military junta fortified Maungdaw  withadvanced defense forces. Many high-rise buildings, private houses and schoolsin ward numbers 1,  2, 3, 4 and Ka Nyin Tan have been converted intomilitary bases.

All bridges in Maungdaw, except the Shwe Zar bridge,were destroyed by the junta soldiers. The said bridge remained intact as the AAfighters defended it while the soldiers tried to destroy the bridge  withmines.

Now the  AA fighters are surrounding Maungdaw foran extended period. On 4 August, they launched an attack on the junta'smilitary camps near to Haw Ri Tu Lar and Maung Ni villages.

They captured the junta's police station at Maung Ni village on the same day and later succeeded in occupying a military camp at  Haw Ri Tu Lar village on 6 August.

Earlier, the 3-mile area of  Maungdaw wascaptured on 9 July. Intense fighting began on 4 August. Over 20,000 residentswere used as human shields by the junta forces and they were  evacuated bythe AA fighters. 

The rescued individuals  include the staff andfamily members of various international organizations. The effort to rescuetrapped Maungdaw residents still continues.

On 15 August  at around 4 pm, a battle eruptedbetween AA fighters and ARSA,ARA and RSO  rebels stationed at aresidential building near number 2 high school in ward number 2. 

The AA fighters defeated the enemy in a forty-minuteexchange of fire.  The enemy forces set many buildings on fire beforefleeing.

Two bodies of enemy forces and some arms &ammunition were recovered from the damaged buildings.

On 16 August, the fighting continued in Maungdaw clocktower and southeastern areas. Many enemy bodies with weapons and ammunitionwere seized from the location.

As the battle intensified, false information wasspread by some human rights defenders.

“We strongly warn against such misinformation whichcan ruin the harmony among ethnic groups in the Arakan region,” stated the AA.

It also added that every incident of violence inrecent days was  deliberately created by the junta soldiers incollaboration with extremist groups like ARSA, RSO, ARA, etc.