Both sides suffer heavy casualties during recent clashes

03 Jul 2019

Khin Tharaphy Oo | DMG

3 July, Sittwe

As hostilities between the Tatmadaw and the AA keep mounting clashes continue in northern Arakan State. Recently, both sides received heavy causalities during a battle, the AA said.

Most of the clashes occurred in Kyauktaw, Minbya, Rathedaung and Mrauk-U Townships and many soldiers from the Tatmadaw were killed, the AA’s spokesperson Khaing Thukha said.

“On 30 June, there were clashes in four townships. In Rathedaung Township, a fight occurred between Lai Gwon and Kyauktan villages in the early morning. It lasted more than one hour. Then, another clash erupted near Yay Pote village in the same township. It took place 1.6-kilometers east of the village. Many soldiers from the Myanmar Army were killed in both skirmishes,” Khaing Thukha said.

He added that two AA members were killed in recent fighting.

The AA announced that clashes occurred at four locations in Kyauktaw, Minbya and Rathedaung Township on 30 June, 50 soldiers from the Myanmar Army and one member of the AA were killed during these fights.

One battle took place east of Minthar Taung village in Kyauktaw Township, two clashes broke out in Rathedaung Township one was east of Yay Pote village in Rathedaung Township and another one was between Nwala Kyaw and Kyauktan villages and one occurred east of Thazi village in Minbya Township, the announcement said.

Maj-Gen Tun Tun Nyi, vice chair of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team, responded that the number of the casualties from the fighting on 30 June was based on an estimation by the AA.

 “We are not allowed to report the exact number of our casualties, and we do not need to say.  That figures the AA reported were most likely guesswork,” he said.

The number of IDPs in northern Arakan State is increasing due to recent clashes. According to the statement of the Rakhine Ethnics Congress released on 16 June, there are nearly 50,000 war refugees in Arakan State.