Must stand against international propaganda on Maungdaw situation: ULA/AA

Must stand against international propaganda on Maungdaw situation: ULA/AA

Maung Sar Ga, Narinjara News, 24 August 2024

The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) has released a fact checked report addressing an incident near Maungdaw of Arakan State which took place on 5 August.  

The 15-page ‘Fact Checking and Incident Analysis Report’ in English, was compiled by the ULA/AA research team and officially released on 21 August.

“The primary objectives of this report are to document and verify the basic facts of the particular incident, analyze the sequence of events, and identify any potential perpetrators,” said the ULA/AA.

The report aims to provide a clearer understanding of the complex situation near Maungdaw town and to assist in uncovering the truth and achieving justice for the victims, it added.

Various video files related to the deaths of several Muslims (fleeing to Bangladesh by boat) on 5 August were made viral on social media. These videos suggest that the villagers were killed by artillery shells/ small arms/ bomb attacks/ drowning/ airstrikes near Naf river, beyond Fezi village at the Maungdaw town exit point at around 5  pm.

Some Rohingya activists abroad accused the Arakan Army (AA) of causing these deaths through improvised rocket firing or drone attacks.

Others claimed that the Myanmar military junta damaged the boat and thus it sank following which many drowned.

In response to these claims, the ULA/AA comes out with the report analyzing the actual events on the ground.

Narinjara News reached out to ULA/AA spokesperson U Khaing Thu Kha for his comment on the report,  but has not yet received any response.

Earlier, Narinjara News contacted U Khaing Thu Kha on 7 August, where he stated that the AA members were not involved with the incident.

“It can be said that this case was a conflict between Muslim terrorist organizations and the junta soldiers, and has absolutely nothing to do with us. However, we’ve learnt that many activists are running an international propaganda against the AA as being responsible for the killings,” he added.

Rather the AA members are  providing assistance to those seeking safety, regardless of their race or religion, he stated asserting that they do not  target civilians.

Earlier, the ULA/AA released a statement on 7 August expressing their profound grief over the incident.