Min Aung Hlaing accuses AA of harming Arakanese people

By Admin 06 Aug 2024

DMG Newsroom
6 August 2024, Sittwe

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has accused the Arakkha Army (AA) of ravaging fellow Arakanese people by launching offensives in Arakan State, levelling the claim as part of a speech on the security situation in Myanmar that included notable references to the ongoing conflict in Arakan State.

Referring to fierce fighting in both northern and southern Arakan State, Min Aung Hlaing said AA leaders are wrecking the lives of Arakanese people with their own hands.

“As 90 percent of Rakhine ethnics reside in Rakhine [Arakan] State, the actions of AA leaders themselves are designed to destroy their ethnics,” Min Aung Hlaing said during a televised speech on the Myanmar security situation on Monday.

The AA created instability by attacking the Donepike border guard police base in Rathedaung Township on November 13, 2023, the military chief claimed.

DMG was unable to reach the AA to ask for its response.

One Arakanese politician defended the AA, saying the ethnic armed group is fighting in Arakan State to liberate the entire Arakanese people from oppression.

“The AA has staged the revolution for the cause of Arakanese people,” he said. “Any people who are oppressed for nearly seven decades, and lag behind others in various aspects, they would stage a revolution. Even if the AA had not emerged, there would always be other groups who would lead the revolution.”

The regime only knows to blame anti-regime forces to cover up for its faults, said political and military analyst U Pe Than.

“The revolution is a consequence of the coup. His coup triggered a nationwide revolution. But Min Aung Hlaing is insisting that he is right and the rest are wrong,” said U Pe Than.

Min Aung Hlaing said the regime would cooperate with local residents to restore stability, a statement that politicians whom DMG spoke to broadly described as ridiculous.

The AA has seized 10 townships since launching its offensive in November. It has also seized much of Thandwe and Maungdaw townships, where fighting is ongoing.