Over 300 villagers in Kyauktaw Township flee fighting

By Win Nyunt 09 Mar 2020

Win Nyunt | DMG
March 9, Kyauktaw

Fighting broke out between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) on March 8 near Mont Thanpyin village in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township, forcing more than 300 residents to flee their homes, local administrator U Sein Kyaw said.

He said the clash occurred one mile south of the village and residents have fled to Meewa and Kyaw Shipyin villages.

“We didn’t bring anything with us when we left our houses. Only an old, blind man remains at the village. All of our cattle were also left behind,” U Sein Kyaw said. “We have faced many problems. At the moment, Meewa residents are providing us with food.”

He added that some houses in the village were burned to the ground by artillery fire.

“A clash occurred once yesterday at around 9 a.m. and the second time happened at around 3 p.m. Seven houses burned down because artillery shells landed in the village. We don’t know which group fired them,” he said.

AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha confirmed that the ethnic armed group confronted Tatmadaw forces near Mont Thanpyin village, part of the Meewa village-tract, on March 8.

Colonel Win Zaw Oo of the Tatmadaw’s Western Command did not respond to DMG attempts to contact him regarding Sunday’s hostilities.

The Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC) has said that the number of civilians displaced by the Tatmadaw-AA conflict in Arakan State has surpassed 120,000, with many of those affected struggling to meet basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter.