Junta continues propaganda war against Arakan Army

 The Burma Affairs & Conflict Study (BACS) has disclosed that the military regime, encountering challenges in the ongoing Rakhine resurgence conflict, has been intensifying its efforts to spread propaganda against the Arakan Army (AA) more than other resistance organizations.

BACS has monitored 12 of the junta's propaganda channels on a weekly basis and found that most of the propaganda content included attacks on the AA members, portraying the revolutionary forces as engaged in terror activities. They also pursued propaganda relating to the arrest & deaths of members belonging to these forces.

Since the AA operations expanded after 13 November, the junta lobbies have identified it as the culprit for the increasing number of casualties, displacing civilians and food shortages, added the statement

Lately, the AA leaders have been identified as culprits in the military regime's nationwide crackdown against the drug peddlers. Interviews with drug suspects included accusations against the AA members, claiming their involvement in drug distribution booths in Rakhine State and other parts of  the country.

The AA responded to junta's accusations regarding illegal drugs by asserting that the junta forces are incapable of engaging in ground combat and hence they are resorting to disseminating false information to the common people.

On 24 December, the Mrauk-U archaeological museum and other Rakhine historical heritages suffered damages due to shelling of 540th &  378th light infantry battalion and 31st border guard police battalion based in Mrauk-U, operating under the junta's 9th military operations command (MOC-9). Despite this, the junta's propaganda channels attributed the damage to the Mrauk-U archaeological museum to shelling by the AA members.

Furthermore, the junta has disseminated propaganda saying that the AA members attacked and looted Ramree general hospital and Mrauk-U general hospital.

During cyclone Mocha, the AA leaders were portrayed as being pro-war, disruptors of peace in the region, and unsympathetic to the well-being of the Rakhine people. Moreover, the  ongoing conflict in the Paletwa region led to the portrayal of AA as responsible for causing harm to the Chin people, said the BACS statement.

During the temporary ceasefire in 2022, there was a significant decrease in propaganda war against the AA. However in 2023, particularly during Operation 1027 and resurgent fighting in Rakhine State, the propaganda efforts were increased  more targeting the AA specifically.