ULA urges people to avoid gatherings due to junta's potential airstrikes, shelling attacks during Thingyan

The United League of Arakan (ULA) has issued an appeal on 11 April to the Rakhine people, urging them to avoid gatherings during the Thingyan period due to the possibility of junta's terrorist airstrikes and shelling attacks.

The ULA urged the people to avoid dancing and water play in urban areas, especially in cars carrying many people, travelling from one city or village to another. It also asked the people to refrain from organizing large Thingyan pavilions and events that attract crowds and finally to avoid observance of Sabbath and making donations at monasteries along with a large number of people.

The organisation insisted on strictly following the highlighted points to prevent mass casualties during the Thingyan festival. This is crucial as the  military junta often targets innocent individuals when they face defeat in the war.

The junta soldiers and Arakha Army (AA) fighters have been engaging in gun fighting across the Rakhine region and it has been intensified. The soldiers are conducting daily airstrikes targeting the crowded areas. The artillery shells are fired aiming at the areas controlled by the AA along with the areas under the offensive of AA fighters.

During this period of intense military activities, the ULA through its statement requested the Rakhine people to avoid  gathering and celebrating the annual festival  in urban and also rural areas.