Besieged Western Command on brink of falling into AA hands

By Admin 17 Dec 2024

Written by May Gyi Shin

The Arakkha Army (AA) has been focused on capturing the Myanmar military's Western Command headquarters in Arakan State's Ann since seizing the garrison town on December 6, after defeating more than 30 junta positions in the region.

Amid intense fighting around the Western Command headquarters, junta soldiers are surrendering to the AA, an AA source told DMG.

"Yesterday, the AA released a video showing a large group of soldiers surrendering. Besides that, there have been smaller groups consisting of four or five junta soldiers that have surrendered," said the source.

In the video clip released Monday, the AA warned: "If you surrender early, you can be relieved and meet your families and relatives early, but if not, it won't be a happy New Year for you."

In May 2022, AA chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing warned then Western Command chief, Major-General Htin Latt Oo, that the ethnic armed group would crush the command if it went too far in persecuting civilians in Arakan State.

Htin Latt Oo was preceded by Maj-Gen Soe Tint Naing from November 2017 to May 2019, and Maj-Gen Phone Myat from May 2019 to July 2020. Maj-Gen Htin Latt Oo served from August 2020 to August 2023.

The current Western Command chief is Brigadier-General Kyaw Swar Oo. He graduated from Officer Training School as part of the 22nd intake and served as the Coastal Region Command in Tanintharyi Region before becoming the Western Command chief.

The Western Command oversees military operations in Arakan State and Paletwa in neighbouring Chin State. The command was established in 1972 and was initially based in Sittwe. It was relocated to Ann in 2000.

The Myanmar military has 14 regional commands. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) captured the Northeastern Command based in Lashio, northern Shan State, in August.

It seems very likely that the Western Command will become the second regional command to be captured by ethnic armed organisations in Myanmar. The fall of the command would deal a serious military and psychological blow to the military regime, but the junta apparently is not in a position to turn the tide.

Prominent lawyer U Kyee Myint said: "Compared with Lashio, Ann is less important. However, in the eyes of the international community, the regime appears to be collapsing. The morale of the regime has hit rock bottom, and the defeat of the Western Command will be a real boost for the AA and Arakan people."

The AA began the battle for control of Ann in the last week of September and launched an offensive attack on the Mae Taung aka Mt. Mel tactical command base guarding the Western Command headquarters in Ann.

Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 362, 365 and 365, under the Sagaing Region-based 10th Military Operations Command, have also been brought in to reinforce the junta's increasingly tenuous hold over its Western Command. The AA seized control of the Mt. Mel tactical command base on October 5 and continued the fight for control of Ann.

There are also views that if the AA completely takes over the Western Command, it could provide a stronger foothold for the Spring Revolution forces operating in the Arakan Mountains.

"We expect that if this western front opens to some extent, the revolutionary forces will be able to obtain the weapons, ammunition, other military equipment, and food they need for their operations from the AA," said Ko Min Htet Han, member of the allied Student Armed Force (SAF) central committee.

The SAF is a resistance group that has a good relationship with the AA and is fighting alongside the ethnic armed group on the front lines.

Fierce fighting between the AA and the Myanmar military continues to this day in Ann and Gwa townships on the western edge of the Arakan Mountains, and the AA has now taken control of the entirety of Taungup Township.

Anti-regime groups such as the SAF, Asho Chin Defense Force (ACDF), and People's Revolutionary Alliance (PRA-Magwe) are active in the Arakan Mountains on the Arakan-Magwe border.

Anti-regime groups have been intercepting junta convoys heading to Ann Township, resulting in frequent clashes in the Arakan Mountains.

Fierce battles continue in Ann, Taungup, and Gwa townships along the western Arakan Mountains. As Ann Township borders Magway Region, anti-regime groups have plans to advance on Magwe if Ann falls.

Since the fighting began to intensify in Ann, the regime has reinforced its Nat Yaykan base, which is located just over a mile from the Arakan-Magwe border post, according to anti-regime groups.