One killed and four injured from battles in Northern Arakan

By Phadu Tun Aung 06 Jun 2019

Phadu Tun Aung | DMG

6 June, Sittwe

A 40-year old man was killed and four others injured during clashes in Mrauk-U and Ponnagyun Townships, northern Arakan State, on June 5.

An artillery shell landed on Gananmae village in Ponnagyun Township during a clash on June 5, U Sein Tun, 40, was killed and U Inga Aung, Daw Si Tu and their daughter Ma Khiang Oo received injuries. The injured people are now at Sittwe hospital.

It is not known who fired the shell. Skirmishes have been occurring near the village for three days. The clash on June 5 started at about 2p.m and the shell landed at about 4p.m, U Inga Aung said.

Meanwhile, a woman in her 60s from Waythali village, Mrauk-U Township, got injured when a stray bullet hit her. She is now at Mrauk-U hospital for medical treatment.

An anonymous person accused the Tatmadaw for her injury. She got hit by the stray bullet when a Tatmadaw troop shot guns near their village, she said.

“There were no clashes near our village. We cannot guess where they fought. But, they (Tatmadaw troop) shot guns when they arrived near our village. I saw them shooting guns, it looked as if the soldiers were agitated by something” she said.

The roofs of some houses in Waythali village were destroyed because of the gunfire and some villagers fled from their homes for safety.

The DMG called Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun from the Tatmadaw True News Information Team regarding the clashes, but he could not be reached. The DMG also tried to contact Colonel Win Zaw Oo from the Western Command for comment, but he was not available.

Since the ongoing fighting between the Tatmadaw and the AA is escalating day by day, the rate of collateral damage of villages near the clashes is increasing. To make matters worse opposing sides refuse to accept responsibility and blame each other for all the damage and fatalities so the situation has become controversial.

Meanwhile, the number of displaced people is around 40,000 and they face difficulties finding food and decent shelter. Political parties and CSOs are now demanding to find a solution as quickly as possible through political dialogues once the fighting is over.