About 400 prisoners, civilians held at Western Command in Ann

By Admin 22 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
22 November 2024, Ann

Hundreds of inmates from Ann Prison and civilians who were arrested during the latest fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakkha Army (AA) were reportedly transferred to the military's Western Command in Ann, Arakan State.

Local sources monitoring the regime's activities said that at least 400 people, including about 200 people sentenced to prison on various political charges and about 200 civilians who were arbitrarily detained, have been transferred to the Western Command headquarters.

"It is believed that the regime is holding local residents and prisoners to use as human shields. When the time comes for the Arakkha Army to launch an offensive to capture the military's Western Command in Ann, the regime could use the detainees as human shields," said a source.

Among the detainees are residents from at least 10 villages such as Autywa, Loneywa, Kyauksakwe, Ywathayar, Melgyichaung and Mee Laung Chaung in Ann Township.

The AA advance has penetrated into downtown Ann, and the regime has reportedly erected additional fencing, dug trenches, and fortified bunkers at its Western Command base.

"The basement is fortified and equipped with jammers. The regime has beefed up its defensive preparations in Ann, as has Border Guard Police Battalion No. 5, the last standing junta battalion in besieged Arakan State's Maungdaw. The regime has prepared a defence in Ann to defend against the AA attack. Fighting between the military and AA will likely intensify in Ann," said a source on the ground.

The AA has captured eight of the 18 military battalions in Ann Township, including a military security affairs battalion. Upwards of 800 junta soldiers have surrendered to the AA in the battle for control of Ann Town.

Clashes between the military and AA are escalating near Pelpadon Bridge, at the Ann airport about five furlongs from the Western Command, and near Autywa Bridge in Ann Township.