Another deadly attack on vehicle in Minbya

By Win Nyunt 22 Apr 2020

Win Nyunt | DMG
April 22, Minbya

A vehicle carrying medical products was fired upon in Arakan State’s Minbya Township on April 21, with the second such attack in two days killing the driver and injuring another person, according to Pyithu Hluttaw lawmaker U Hla Aung Nyunt.

He said the vehicle from the CPS antibiotics company was shot at just after driving past the Rar Maung Bridge. The driver U Nwe Nwe Maung died on the spot, according to the MP, who added that passenger Mg Hein Htet Oo received a severe injury to his stomach and was brought to Sittwe General Hospital.

“There were no clashes near that area at that time. So we cannot say which group shot them,” U Hla Aung Nyunt said.

In a statement, the Tatmadaw said the vehicle traveling from Ann town to the Arakan State capital Sittwe was attacked at around 1 p.m. on April 21, about 500 meters south of Phar Pyo village.

The statement also alleged that the attack was launched by the Arakan Army (AA), which the government designated as a “terrorist group” and unlawful association last month.

In recent weeks, multiple media outlets that have used the AA as a source in their reporting have faced charges under the Counter-Terrorism Law. As such, at this time DMG is opting not to contact the AA for comment regarding the Tatmadaw’s accusation.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) vehicle transporting swab samples from people suspected of COVID-19 infection was fired upon near the Rar Maung Zet Jetty in Minbya Township on April 20. One WHO employee was killed and another was injured in the attack.

Both the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army have denied responsibility for Monday’s attack and instead blamed each other — an exercise in mutual finger-pointing that has become commonplace in the aftermath of civilian casualties from the Arakan State conflict.