Tatmadaw and AA needs to talk to end war in Arakan State, MPs suggests

By Nay Yaung Min 04 Sep 2019

Nay Yaung Min | DMG
3 September, Sittwe
 
The fighting between the Tatmadaw and the AA has been waging for over eight months now, disrupting civilians lives in the worst ways possible. Arakan lawmakers have strongly suggested that both sides must sit down together and find a way to bring peace and stability to the region that’s acceptable to everyone.

U Hla Thein Aung, Arakan State MP for Minbya Township, said that we wanted both sides to talk and he expressed his sympathy with people who have been affected by the armed confrontations.

“The AA officially said that the ongoing fighting in Arakan State is a result of offensive operations carried out by the Tatmadaw. Meanwhile, the Tatmadaw said that they are conducting military operations against terrorist organization for the country’s security and safety. But, innocent people become victims of war. From my point of view, both sides should discuss these pressing issues if they want to protect people,” the lawmaker said.

The Tatmadaw has declared a unilateral ceasefire in its five military command regions since 21 December in 2018 and extended the ceasefire to 21 September.

U Zaw Zaw Tun, secretary of the Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC), said that excluding Arakan State from the list of the regions declared unilateral ceasefire areas is the main reason of the continued fighting in Arakan State and the Tatmadaw needs to consider adding Arakan State in the regions declared ceasefire.

“Both sides can reduce armed conflicts when Arakan State has been declared a ceased-fire region, then they can talk one-on-one,” he said.

The Northern Alliance including the AA and the National Reconciliation and Peace Center met in Keng Tung on 31 August and discussed the cease fire agreement and the signing of the bilateral agreement.

The Northern Alliance agreed to keep on talking with the Tatmadaw regarding troop deployment and setting terms and conditions not to instigate new fighting between them.

As many as 67 people were killed, 182 others were injured and over 60,000 people have been displaced from their homes due to fighting in Arakan State, according to the REC.