Saw Shin May, Narinjara News, 20 August 2024

The junta has set up artillery at five strategic locations,including on pagoda hills in Gwa,the southernmost Township of Arakan State close to Irrawaddy Division, as apre-emptive measure against a potential offensive by the Arakan Army (AA), saidlocal residents.

The artillery has been positioned at Min Taung pagodahill, west of the 563rd battalion exit point leading from Gwa to Nga-thaingChaung, Shwe Nan Khaing pagoda hill, 562nd battalion exit point on the roadfrom Gwa to Kyeintali, Yae Myint hill, near Kan Thar Yar, Thadar Htaik hill atKyway Chai village entry point and Kular Pyin police station hill.

The artillery on Thadar Htaik hill and Kular Pyin police station hill wasinstalled a few days back. The other positions were used by the second week ofAugust.

A group of soldiers from the artillery battalion based in the Ayeyarwady regionwere sent to Gwa and they are now stationed on these hills. 

"The artillery battalion is based in theAyeyarwady region. This is a pre-emptive measure against any AA offensive,”said a local.

Another resident expressed concern over two artilleryshells, fired by the junta soldiers at around 11  am on 18 August in Gwa.

"I heard two artillery shells being fired. Theartillery was installed in Gwa recently.

Now they can see the entire town and operate theartillery. We are worried about the development,” added the resident.

After relinquishing Kyeintali town, the junta forcesdeployed its soldiers in several locations like Kyauk Pa Sat, Kular Pyin, KaingKhone, Sat Thwar, Kyway Chai, Taing Kyoe, Maw Shwe Chai and Kan Thar Yar. Alllocations are traced in between Kyeintali and Gwa.

Meanwhile, the conflict continues in Maungdaw andThandwe townships, whereas the fighting starts spreading towards  Gwa.

A number of residents from Thandwe and Gwa townshipsfled to the Ayeyarwady region due to the ongoing clashes.