Fighting between Tatmadaw and AA intensified in Mrauk-U, injuring two civilians

By Khaing Roe La 28 Aug 2019

Khaing Roe La | DMG
28 August, Mrauk-U

A fierce armed confrontation between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army erupted at Lin Mway Taung mountain range in Mrauk-U Township early on Wednesday morning, both sides confirmed.

The AA attacked a temporary military station at Lin Mway Taung mountain range, but the AA’s information officer does not know the details of the fighting yet,

“This morning, at about 4:30 a.m, our troop attacked the station of a field artillery regiment of the Tatmadaw. The Myanmar army incurred heavy casualties.  We also lost two soldiers. Four others were injured,” Khaing Thukha, the AA information officer said.

He added that the AA opened gunfire on the head-quarters of a Mobile Operations Command (9) and Daung Taw Yoe station on Tuesday night.

The head of the Western Command Colonel Win Zaw Oo confirmed that the AA attacked a Tatmadaw security force positioned at Lin Mway Taung mountain range.

“They attacked a security force at Lin Mway Taung mountain range. They tested us to see if they could overrun this area. I’ve heard that they suffered heavy losses when our troop returned fire. They had to retreat after collecting the bodies of their comrades,” Colonel Win Zaw Oo said.

Two civilians from a village two miles from the fighting area were hit by pieces of shrapnel. Daw Tin Tin Htay, 35, and Ma Thuzar Hlaing, 13, from Htate Wa Pyin village in Mrauk-U Township were injured due to the artillery shells launched by the Tatmadaw, local sources said.

An artillery shell exploded at a grove of bamboo behind the house of Daw Tin Tin Htay and pieces of shrapnel hit her belly, family members said.

Daw Tin Tin Htay has been sent to Tin Nyo hospital, but the doctor told us she would be transferred to Mrauk-U hospital, said U Sein Shwe, a member of the family.

When the DMG sought comment about the artillery shell landing in the village, the head of the Western Command Colonel Win Zaw Oo said that it was not from the Tatmadaw troops.

The AA’s spokesperson Khiang Thukha said that the artillery shell did not come from volleys of gunfire.

“The Bama army launched an artillery shell into the village this morning. The shell that landed in the village does not look like it came from the fighting between the two groups,” Khaing Thukha said.

The gunfire forced people from Htate Wa Pyin village to run to Saphoetha, Lamutha and Kyakhatpyin villages in Kyauktaw Township for safety.

The fighting area is so close to the road that the road connection between Kyauktaw Township and Mrauk-U town was temporarily closed and no vehicles used the road until 5p.m. for security, said Ko Chan Thar, a driver of a bus running between Mrauk-U and Sittwe.