Lu Htet Naing, Narinjara News, 16 October 2024
The Daung Chaung Elephant Camp, which was
situated between Gwa Town in Arakan State and Ngathainggyaung Township in the
Ayeyarwady Region, has been moved in recent days as the Arakan Army (AA) attack
progressively moves closer to Gwa Town.
"Yesterday, I witnessed them traveling
with the elephants across the highlands," a witness from Daung Chaung
stated. They have been on the move for almost three days. They moved out of
fear when the AA offensive approached Gwa Town. They reportedly relocated to
the Ayeyarwady Region's Thabaung Township. The mahouts and staff escorted the
elephants, with some of them even walking on foot, while the families of the
workers were driven around. The elephant camp is located approximately five
miles from Daung Chaung, and they are traveling to Ayeyarwady through the
forest."
The Daung Chaung Elephant Camp, located 7 miles
from Gwa at the entrance to Gwa Town from Ngathainggyaung in the Ayeyarwady
Region, is home to 40 elephants and more than 200 people, according to locals.
According to a neighbor living close to the
elephant camp on October 14, 15, and 16, when combat in Gwa Township grew more
intense and the AA onslaught got closer to Gwa Town, the elephant camp in Daung
Chaung village, as well as the elephants and workers at the logging site, were
moved.
"Timber elephants make up the minority of
the elephants being transferred right now. Similar to Chaung Thar's elephant
camp, these are utilized for rides. The Shwe Yati project was used to put this
into practice. Before the AA took over Thandwe, the elephants in Daung Chaung
were relocated from an elephant camp close to Sar Ni Taung. Now they are
returning to Ayeyarwady as the AA closes in on Gwa. The resident gave the
explanation that they had moved to the former Mayan Cho Thit timber production
location in Thabaung Township.
The elephants from the Daung Chaung village
elephant camp were relocated to the old Mayan Cho timber production site in
Thabaung Township, Ayeyarwady Region, according to a local female merchant in
Thabaung who was familiar with the elephant camp.
"They will keep fighting for the
livelihoods of elephants and those who have to move to new places'. There needs
to be reconstruction in the areas designated for the elephants at the Mayan Cho
timber production site. The staff members' livelihoods can also become
challenging," she warned.
Fighting is slowly moving into Gwa Town from
Gwa Township, which is in Arakan State's southernmost region. As of right now,
the AA offensive has advanced 25 miles south of Gwa Town.
On September 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., the AA took
control of Maung Shwe Lay, the last naval facility belonging to the junta, in
Thandwe Town. After this triumph, in the third week of September, the AA
launched another onslaught into Gwa Township and took control of the
strategically significant Kyeintali Town, which is located between Thandwe Town
and Gwa Town.
The junta forces were forced to retreat from
village to village, including Kyauk Pa Sat, Sar Chet, Kaing Khon, Gant
Gaw Taung, Ba Win, Ku Lar Pyin (Yadanar Myaing), Bel Inn, Del Bote, and Ku Toet
Lay, while the AA resumed its onslaught after seizing control of Kyeintali
Town. Fighting is still going on in Kyway since the junta was unable to halt
the AA's advance despite resistance from joint army, naval, and air force
forces. (Photo: Courtesy)