- Web Master
- October 01, 2024
Narinjara News, 19 August 2024
The Arakan Army (AA) has released a statement on the
current offensive to capture Maungdaw town of Arakan State. On 18 August, the AA fighters
asked the residents to evacuate by 16 June just ahead of the gun battle to
capture the town. Some residents followed the notice and left, but many others
remained in their places.
Those staying include-supporters of the military
junta, armed Muslim groups backed by the junta, terrorist organizations like
ARSA, RSO, ARA, etc, family members associated with these groups, residents
used as human shields by the junta (and the extremist organizations) and
individuals who disobeyed the notice.
The military junta fortified Maungdaw with
advanced defense forces. Many high-rise buildings, private houses and schools
in ward numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and Ka Nyin Tan have been converted into
military bases.
All bridges in Maungdaw, except the Shwe Zar bridge,
were destroyed by the junta soldiers. The said bridge remained intact as the AA
fighters defended it while the soldiers tried to destroy the bridge with
mines.
Now the AA fighters are surrounding Maungdaw for
an extended period. On 4 August, they launched an attack on the junta's
military 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 was
captured on 9 July. Intense fighting began on 4 August. Over 20,000 residents
were used as human shields by the junta forces and they were evacuated by
the AA fighters.
The rescued individuals include the staff and
family members of various international organizations. The effort to rescue
trapped Maungdaw residents still continues.
On 15 August at around 4 pm, a battle erupted
between AA fighters and ARSA,
ARA and RSO rebels stationed at a
residential building near number 2 high school in ward number 2.
The AA fighters defeated the enemy in a forty-minute
exchange of fire. The enemy forces set many buildings on fire before
fleeing.
Two bodies of enemy forces and some arms &
ammunition were recovered from the damaged buildings.
On 16 August, the fighting continued in Maungdaw clock
tower and southeastern areas. Many enemy bodies with weapons and ammunition
were seized from the location.
As the battle intensified, false information was
spread by some human rights defenders.
“We strongly warn against such misinformation which
can ruin the harmony among ethnic groups in the Arakan region,” stated the AA.
It also added that every incident of violence in
recent days was deliberately created by the junta soldiers in
collaboration with extremist groups like ARSA, RSO, ARA, etc.