ARAKAN ARMY AND BURMA ARMY CLASH IN ARAKAN STATE

Map of the Bangladesh-Burma Border

The Arakan Army (AA) and the Burma Army fought on the border of Arakan and Chin Sates on 29 March at 00:30am, the first time they have clashed in the region for decades.


The fighting was between the Burma Army Infantry Battalion 289 and forces under the command of the Arakan Army Tactical Unit Number 5.

In an interview with Narinjara Lt. Col Dr. Nyo Tun Aung, the deputy commander in chief of the AA said: “The battle clash happened to the west of Platwa Town and to the north of Kyauktaw Town. Currently that is all we can say.

According to the latest information we have received we have suffered no casualties. We recovered two bodies, one was a captain and the other was a private. We also arrested two soldiers.”

He added that the AA had also seized a 45mm pistol, two MA-1 machine guns, one MA-3 machine gun, several bullets and military equipment.

He said: “The fighting broke out after midnight and it lasted for about half an hour. Since the opposing forces fled their camp we were able to seize the materials they had left in the camp.

Lt. Col Dr. Nyo Tun Aung also pointed out that because the government has been increasing the number of Burma Army soldiers in the area there is likely to be further fighting.

For the last few decades there has been no fighting between the Burma Army and Arakan armed forces in Arakan State.

The AA was formed in the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) controlled area in 2008 and has been cooperating militarily with the KIA.

Now the AA has moved some of its forces to the Bangladesh-Burma border and has started military operations in the area.

The Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and the AA have resumed activities on the Bangladesh-Burma border, even though the ALP signed a ceasefire agreement with the government in Sittwe, Arakan State on 5 April 2012.

Narinjara News contacted the Burma Army to ask for a comment on the fighting with the AA, but they have yet to reply.

Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI