AA denies accusation of Tatmadaw for blasting ICRC’s trucks

28 Jun 2019

Khin Tharaphy Oo | DMG

28 June, Sittwe 

The Tatmadaw said on 28 June that the AA detonated three remote controlled bombs and opened fire while a convoy of ICRC’s six trucks transported relief aid supplies for Maungdaw Region.

The convoy was struck by a roadside bomb on Thursday night at about 8:25p.m near Kyauk Kyat village in Kyauktaw Township.

But, the AA’s spokesperson Khiang Thukha, denied the allegations and accussed the Tatmadaw of carrying out these actions.

“The incident is not related with us. Two columns of the Bama army had been positioned in the area that night to ramp up security. They were stationed at a location near Maha Myat Muni Pagoda road near Kyauk Kyat village. If gunfire comes from that area, it is surely the weapons of the Bama army,” Khaing Thukha said.

There were clashes near the village where the convoy was attacked and the Tatmadaw has tightened security in the area since fighting broke out there, he said.

He added that a curfew order has been imposed in Kyauktaw Township and the movement of the convoy in the area that night may be able to say who really set off the explosions.

The ICRC confirmed the truck was destroyed by the roadside bomb blast and that it was carrying supplies from Yangon. But the vehicle did not display the logos or symbols connected to ICRC because the vehicles were rented.  

The Tatmadaw said in its statement that the AA conducted roadside bomb blasting in Arakan State between in January and April this year.

During the bomb blast on Thursday night, the first truck was slightly destroyed and there were no injuries, the statement said.