Myanmar Air Force strafes rockets on position of Arakan Army after it loses strategic base

The strategic base of Myanmar Army was occupied on 10.3.2019 in northern Arakan

by Arakan Army after fierce clashes between the Arakan Army and Myanmar Army.

During the period of occupation,  Arakan Army captured eleven

Myanmar soldiers and seized many ammunitions and weapons of Myanmar Army.

According to Arakan Army’s website, it is taking care of eleven prisoners of war and

materializing to hand over them to international organization like Red Cross.

Arakan Army has already handed over prisoners of war to International Committee of

Red Cross (ICRC) once in previous years.

After Myanmar Army lost its tactical base, it again launched offensive attacks against

the Arakan Army by using fighter jets. On 13.3.2019, Myanmar Air Force bombed and

strafed rockets on position of Arakan Army in northern Arakan hitting villages. Therefore,

villagers, in fear, are fleeing from their villages to nearby places. Nowadays, Internally

Displaced Persons (IDPs) are over ten thousands in northern Arakan due to offensive attacks

of Myanmar Army. But Myanmar government does not allow any organization including UN

to access IDPs to help humanitarian aid.  IDPs are facing lack of foods and shelters and suffering from diseases like dysentery because of no clean water.

With everyday clashes between the Myanmar Army and Arakan Army in the lost Arakan to Myanmar (western Myanmar), fighting has dominated all over rural areas and towns. In these

circumstances, Myanmar Army is violating human rights and committing war crimes on civilians

and Arakanese villagers by killing, persecuting, raping, looting, arresting and threatening.

Landmine set by Myanmar Army kills Arakanese elder man

Column of Myanmar Army left landmines in Mrauk Oo Township in Arakan ,western Myanmar, without clearing them after it stationed near the village named Aoug Tha Kan.

As we all know, Myanmar Army ignores to sign at UN for no landmines and it still is using

Landmines like 14-mine and 16-mine in the battles against the Arakan Army which

represents people of Arakan to free from Myanmar. Just one day back, that was after

clash between the Arakan Army and Myanmar Army on 5.3.2019, unfortunately,

three persons from Aoug Tha Kan village, in Mrauk Oo Township, went to their plantation and

their own small hill to fetch firewood. They did not know that Myanmar Army stationed and

left landmines there. They stepped on one of landmines

set by Myanmar Army.

 

No sooner had

landmine blasted than one of three persons named Mr. Tun Sein died(aged 68). He lost both of his legs when landmine exploded . Remaining two persons injured on knees and back respectively .

Myanmar Army is killing, persecuting, arresting, looting and executing Arakanese people and

bombing on villages. Moreover, it is firing into villages while it enters villages to kill and loot villagers.

Arakanese adolescents killed by Myanmar Army

How Myanmar Army persecutes and executes Arakanese people in Arakan, western

Myanmar, is that After Aung San Suu Kyi called for her notorious and brutal Army to

crush Arakan Army immediately in Northern Arakan, Myanmar Army became a licence

holder to kill and loot  Arakanese people.

Almost everyday, there in northern Arakan, clashes between the Myanmar Army and

Arakan Army deadly happen near the villages since December, 2018. After every clash,

Myanmar Army enters villages and randomly fires houses and villagers causing villagers’

deaths. There are currently a boy and a girl whom Myanmar Army kills by firing in village.

The boy is seven years old and from thami Hla village. The girl also is 19 years old and from

Minfu village. At the same time, Myanmar Army tortures and executes villagers.

According to Information and Publicity Department,
All Arakan Students' and Youths' Congress (AASYC),

on February 21, 2019 an Arakanese young boy named Maung Zaw Naing Naing Htay 17 years of age who is one of candidates of government matriculation exam which will begin on March 7, 2019 was tortured by Myanmar Army . Upon his coming back to his home after fueling his motorcycle from a filling station called (Kaung Hkhun Thit) Moe Kaung Hkhun which locates outskirts of the city of Kyauktaw was arbitrary detained by Myanmar Army’s battalion No. 539 in front of the Battalion No. 375 camp at between 16:00 to 17:00 hours. He was taken to the battalion no. 539 and the Army released him in that night . Since his was released he cannot speak properly and suffering psychological fear in his mind.

And nearly a dozen civilians(11 people) have been missing in the township of Mrauk-U presently.   According to people with knowledge of situation, Myanmar Army arrests and takes away them after clashes with Arakan Army. Nobody knows where they are now. But at nearby Ran Aung Pyin

village, Mrauk Oo Township, badly,five burned bodies are found by villagers after missing.

Clashes are still occurring in Mrauk Oo Township therefore forcibly people are being taken as

porters to carry heavy things and as guides to lead routes in region by Myanmar Army.

India Army should not commit again such kind of Operation Leech

21 years ago, the Indian army killed 6 Arakanese and Karen leaders and arrested many Arakanese soldiers in India's remote island of Andaman and Nicobar by luring them with a promise to offer an isolated island as their base. This incident was known as "Operation Leech" which India did only to appease then military junta of Burma. The Operation Leech has only brought disgrace on India as it caused the instability in the government and former Indian navy chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagawat had to resign from his post and many other army officers that took millions of dollars as bribes from the Burmese military intelligence service are still facing their trials.

I still remember that about 15 years ago, the BBC East India correspondence Mr. Subir Bhaumik said in a conference held in New Delhi that India had killed Arakanese leaders and arrested many Arakanese soldiers but China has never done such short-sighted act, by referring to the Operation Leech incident.

Yes, Subir's opinion was right. China never does such action against any of the ethnic revolutionary groups even though many ethnic nationalities armed forces are based and carrying out their struggles against the brutal Burmese junta in areas bordering China. It's like Mr. India likes a small bone and Mr. China wants to get a big pot of meat. That is the big difference between China and India and that's why India is always behind China. China instead used the situation to benefit its business empire and political power in the region. What India, as the world's biggest democratic nation gained from the notorious Operation Leech was nothing for Indian people, but shame.

If the Indian leaders didn't commit such a big mistake over 20 years ago, many innocent lives of Arakanese people would have been saved from the executions by the Burmese army. India might also be pocketing trillions of dollars worth of profits annually from every major business and economic plants from Arakan where the world's second largest natural gas deposit and other natural resources including oil, uranium, etc. exist. The direction of the gas pipeline currently connecting Kyauk Pyu and Kunming might have diverted to Guhawati or Kolkata.

My dream of seeing Arakanese people freed from the brutal oppression of the Burmese army, and their lives being developed using Indian technologies and also using the Indian rupees as their state currency have all disappeared with the destruction of Arakanese revolution by the Indian army.

Now, there is news on the internet about the possible joint operation of Indian army and Burma army against the new Arakan Army (AA). The Arakan Army is supported by the people of Arakan and they are fighting for equality and self-determination for the oppressed people, it does no harm to India or Indian people. Moreover, the Burma army is due to face the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its human rights violations to non-Burmese people so India will gain nothing by cooperating with Burma army that is committing rapes, killings, lootings and other inhuman crimes against the Arakanese and other non-Burmese people currently being colonized by the Burmese. The good image of Indian army will damage badly once again like in the last 20 years ago.

Even though we can't change the decision of greedy politicians, we can make our voices loud for the benefits of our country and our people. We should not allow our country name damage due to a few incorrupt people. One of the six AA leaders killed by the Indian army on 11th Feb, 1998 in Landfall Island was my own brother but I hold no grudge against India. I am fully aware of the fact that the bribery played a big role in the involvement of India army in Burma internal conflict.

So, I want to request my Indian friends to voice your concerns against the Indian army's support for the brutal, barbaric, notorious, and infamous Burma army and save the glorious image of the great Indian army.

AKK

"Jai Hind"
"Jai Arakan Army"

Please share and spread this message and save the Indian army from repeating the same mistake again as repeating it would only bring shame to the Nation and its people. It will also save the lives of innocent people from the brutal killing of Burma army in Arakan.

Photos: 1,2,3: The Arakan Army leaders with Indian army and intelligence officers in Indo-Arakan-Bangladesh border. The former 4: Former Arakan Army (Marine) members.

Credit-Akyab Kumar Khan

Arakan under the Myanmar or Burma rule

The western part of so-called Myanmar is the lost Arakan kingdom to Myanmar.  Myanmar

or Burma occupied it and colonized it until now. Under the Myanmar rule, Arakanese are

being badly persecuted and the land of Arakan is becoming poorer land of the world.

Therefore, Arakanese people, from time to time, are struggling to regain their nation back from Myanmar or Burma in a way of possibilities.

Nowadays, Arakanese people gave birth its Arakan Army to survive alive and free from Myanmar. Hence, almost everyday, Myanmar Army’s columns are launching offensive attacks against the Arakan Army in Arakan, western part of so-called Myanmar, by using air force and artillery. Myanmar Army’s offensive attack against the Arakan Army in Arakan has been almost over three months except just a few days without deadly clashes. Myanmar Army is not only targeting to attack Arakan Army but also bombing Arakanese villages.

Columns of Myanmar Army bomb villages, cultivating fields, farmyards and haystacks. By the

time Myanmar Army bombs on haystacks of poor farmers, fire breaks out and engulfs some

houses of villages causing minor and elder persons to die. So, villagers are afraid and flee from their villages to nearby villages. At the same time, Myanmar soldiers forcefully enter into villages and loot properties of villagers.

A few days back, in Maung Daw Township, due to Myanmar Army, haystacks in paddy fields

were burn to ground after its flames burst into nearby woods. Fire engines from local fire station were fighting to extinguish.

Almost everyday clashes between the Myanmar Army and Arakan Army in Arakan cause villagers to flee from their villages becoming internally displaced persons. Nowadays, there are

almost 7000 IDPs in Arakan in just three months. Even if number of IDPs is appearing much,

Myanmar government and Myanmar Army do not allow International Organizations and Local Aid Groups to access IDPs to help humanitarian aids.

Battle news and Burmese Army’s War Crimes (Feb 1 and Feb 2, 2019)

http://arakan.army/battle-news-and-burmese-armys-war-crimes-feb-1-and-feb-2-2019/

In the evening around 6:30 PM in February 1st, 2019, a ten-minute long fighting between Arakan Army and Burmese Army broke out near Kharu Chaung village and Ragaung Chaung village in Rathedaung Township.

The following morning from 8:47 AM to 10:42 AM in February 2nd, another exchange of fire broke out near Kyauk Tan village and Reboat village in Rathedaung Township. The Burmese army suffered great casualties during the fighting and Arakan army was able to seize arms and ammunitions from battalion (566) of the Burmese Army.

In addition, Arakan Army also captured their ration including bags of rice, beans and Shwe Phe Oo tea sachets at one-kilometer distance from southwest of Pa Ka Wa village in Paletwa Township. During the past few months, Arakan Army seized their rations three times excluding this.

After intersecting the ration support lines of the Burmese Army, we have found that the Burmese Army intimidated and forced the villagers to transport rations from the Pa Ka Wa villagers and Mwe Hlaing Wa villagers to their supply lines. On humanitarian grounds, we have let the villagers go unharmed, after stopping the rations from going over to the Burmese Army.

The Burmese Army has been witnessed to have committed war crimes for they have used civilians to transport rations for their supply. They made use of the civilians to find ways on their military routes while using the civilians as human shields from attack.

A clear evidence happened on 2 February when they took away and used as human shields three people from Kyauk Tan village, Rathedaung Township, namely (1) U Kyaw Sein Than (aged 51) (2) Maung Lone Shay (aged 30) (3) Maung Than Hlaing (aged 32). Eyewitnesses gave confirmation that a Burmese convoy of about 70 troops took them away towards “Hlaing Gwan Gyi” creek.

Arakan Army encourages the human rights documenters to keep vigilant about the Burmese Army’s war crimes during these days so that they can be reported to international human rights watch groups.

Precious belongings of Arakanese villagers are looted by Myanmar Army

List of villagers looted by Myanmar Army

Myanmar Army is known as a war criminal force. In the Myanmar Army, from top to below,

every  solider commits war crime while fighting against ethnic armed

groups in so-called Myanmar. They rape women and minor girls. They kill ethnic

people even pregnant women. They steal things even house breeding animals

like cocks, hens, pigs, goats and cows while launching attacks against the ethnic armed

List of villagers looted by Myanmar Army

groups. Therefore, in so-called Myanmar, people call Myanmar Army as rapist and

dacoit army. Recently, Myanmar leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, called for her notorious Army

to crush Arakan Army in the lost Arakan to Myanmar( western Myanmar) on 7.1.2019.Therefore,

Myanmar Army was licensed to kill, loot, steal and rape Arakanese people.

On 26.1.2019, Arakan Army ambushed Myanmar Army near the bridge behind the Thamee Hla

village, in northern Arakan ,killing at least twenty Myanmar soldiers. After ambush and clash has

calmed down, Myanmar soldiers, instead of following Arakan soldiers to fight again, entered into  

Thamee Hla village instructing all villagers to leave houses for gathering at village school.

While villagers were gathering at village school, Myanmar soldiers broke in house after house in

the village. Scattering things in the houses, Myanmar soldiers stole monies and gold jewelry from villagers’ houses.

Local media and BBC reported this on 28.1.2019 but Myanmar or Burma media still intentionally

omitting the fact of stealing and looting of Myanmar soldiers.

The oppressed Arakan in their own land under the Myanmar rule

Myanmar Army started to launch offensive attacks against the Arakan Army in the

lost Arakan to Myanmar - western Myanmar- four years ago when Arakan Army gained

control of its strongholds and Sub-Headquarters in Arakan after it based  Headquarters

in liberated area of Kachin Independent Army in Northern Myanmar .There were over

160 clashes between the Arakan Army and Myanmar Army since then according

 to local media. 

Nowadays, Myanmar Army has intensified its attacks by using

air force in Northern Arakan. During the period of attacks of Myanmar Army,

there are Internally Displaced Persons of numbers increase from hundreds to thousands

and human rights violation committed by Myanmar Army looms from bad to

worst. Arakanese are accused, beaten and arrested without evidences by

Myanmar Army. Villagers in the hill area and battle zone are afraid to use mobile

phones because if they use them, Myanmar Army  accused villagers reporting and

informing of the situation of the battle ground to AA.  Roughly, twenty persons

including a village administrator are already arrested because of using mobile phone.

In this week, Myanmar Army is shelling bombs over the villages in northern Arakan.

Elder and young brother injured seriously when Myanmar Army shelled bomb on their

house in Maung Taw Township which is border with Bangladesh. The two brothers’ house

was burn to ground but no Myanmar government officer comes forward for responsibility and

accountability. Moreover, a bangle speaking Muslim was  killed and one other was gotten injure respectively by bomb and bullet fired by Myanmar Army.

Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is now in war against the Arakan Army

After Myanmar leader a Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi called for her notorious

Myanmar Army to crush the Arakan Army by using air force on 7.1.2019, military chief

Min Aung Haling reinforced his combatants (over 5000 troops) into northern Arakan , western so-called Myanmar. In Myanmar, If ethnic armed groups except Arakan Army attack Myanmar military, every civilian government including NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi never call for their Army to launch operations to eliminate armed groups.

It is never before in history that Aung San Suu Kyi herself is now in war against the Arakan Army and Myanmar civilian government is hand in hand with military to wage war against the Arakan Army. As we all know, Army and Police in Myanmar are not true to their duty and Myanmar Army is considered to be one among the worst in the world. Therefore, ICC is attempting to take legal action against the culprit Myanmar leaders.

Nowadays, even if more than 5000 internally displaced persons in four townships in northern Arakan are without sufficient food and shelters in cruel climate, Myanmar Army is blocking food shipments to them. Relief workers and humanitarian workers are also treated as unwanted men by Myanmar Army. On the other hand, Myanmar Army is also shelling bombs near the villages and hills. Moreover, local youths are being beaten and punched by Myanmar Army’s soldiers when they were accused as members of Arakan Army.

UN and international organizations are just about to access humanitarian help on the ground and urge Myanmar Army and Arakan Army to find peaceful solution.

Myanmar Army arrests village administrator and medical officer after using villagers as human shield in battle

Myanmar Army and police are persecuting villagers from Re Gaung Chaung village,

in northern Arakan, where there are ongoing clashes between the Myanmar Army and

Arakan Army. Since November, number of clashes was occurring in northern Arakan everyday

after Myanmar Army launched offensive attacks against the Arakan Army by using air force

and long rang mortars like howitzer artilleries therefore villages in northern Arakan particularly strife-torn Re Gaung Chaung village was hit bombs and mortars by Myanmar Army. Moreover, villagers, village administrator and medical officer from Re Gaung Chaung were arrested after Myanmar soldiers raided village and forced entire villagers to leave their village for monastery  on 28.12.2018.

Before raiding Re Gaung Chaung, eleven villagers from Say Taung were forced to walk in front of Myanmar soldiers. That is to say that Myanmar Army used them as human shield in the battlefield. Local media like RFA and The Irrawaddy telephoned Ye Gaung Chaung’s administrator and  he confirmed human shield used by Myanmar Army therefore he was soon arrested along with medical officer when his village was raided, looted and demolished.

In Re Gaung Chaung, there were 302 houses, 350 families, 690 males, 720 females and total population was 1410.  On Thursday, ICRC announced that there are over (1000) displaced villagers whom ICRC is assisting in the fighting area of northern Arakan, western so-called Myanmar. The same day, Arakan National Party released statement demanding Myanmar Army not to threaten villagers with force and not to frighten them off  and demanding also not to block humanitarian workers who help displaced persons caused by Myanmar Army offensive attacks against the Arakan Army.