Tatmadaw denies heading off villagers fleeing from fighting

06 Aug 2019

Khaing Roe La | DMG

6 August, Minbya

Tatmadaw troops reportedly forced villagers who have been displaced by the fighting at a mountain range in Minbya Township to return home and obstructed their journey before they reached their respective homes.

Local residents from 14 villages, who have fled from homes due to clashes which occurred on 4 and 5 August, were told by a Tatmadaw troop to turn back when they reached Let Khote village near Minbya town, said U Hla Thein Aung, Arakan State MP for Minbya Township.

“A military troop near Let Khote village prevented villagers from heading to a safer place,” U Hla Thein Aung said.

The villages near the conflict area are Zedi Yan, Nga Tet, Kyaw Maw, Phone Tha Pale Taung, O Pone Taung, Pyaing Chaung, Ngan Tet, Gwa Sone, Nat Maw, Maung Pote Kay, Nyaung Chone, Kyauk Sone, Stae Taya and Let Khote.

Colonel Win Zaw Oo, head of the Western Command, however, told the DMG that the Tatmadaw did not impede villagers who fled for safety.

“Villages such as Let Khote and Sate Tara are in areas connected with the AA, but there were no people in these villages. It has been a long time since Tha Lu Chaung village was deserted. Our military personnel did nothing in these areas. They are conducting regional clearance operations at the eastern ridge of Mt. Min Bu,” Colonel Win Zaw Oo said.

Villagers are getting stuck in conflict zones, however a relief team from Minbya Town that tried to rescue them on 5 August had been turned back from Let Khote village because a military troop did not allow them to keep going.

“I requested the Tatmadaw troop to take villagers by motorboat to a safe area, but they told me that I could go and see villagers but I was not allowed to rescue them. When I asked them for a reason why, they said it was their superior’s order,” said Balipauk Sayardaw from Minbya Town.

About 5000 people from over 30 villages took refuge in Minbya town and nearby villages due to the clashes between the Tatmadaw and the AA in Minbya Township.