AA tells junta soldiers at Maungdaw BGF Battalion No. 5 to surrender

By Admin 26 Aug 2024

DMG Newsroom
26 August 2024, Maungdaw

The Arakkha Army (AA) has warned junta soldiers and armed Muslim militiamen at Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion No. 5 in Maungdaw’s Myothugyi Ward to surrender.

The AA drove the junta forces, who had taken positions in downtown Maungdaw, out of the border town and warned the regime forces in BGF Battalion No. 5 to surrender.

“The AA has seized control of Maungdaw and there are no junta soldiers and Muslim militiamen in the town. All junta soldiers and Muslim militiamen have fled to BGF Battalion No. 5 and some were captured alive by the AA. The AA has warned junta soldiers to surrender,” said a DMG source in Maungdaw.

Clashes between the military and AA are escalating near BGF Battalion No. 5 and the regime carries out airstrikes on a daily basis.

Another source on the ground said some junta soldiers wanted to surrender to the AA, but that there was disagreement due to pressure from ARSA and its allies not to surrender.

“Some junta soldiers wanted to surrender to the AA, but they were threatened by ARSA and armed Muslim men that they would be shot dead if they surrendered to the AA,” the source added.

The battle for control of Maungdaw began on August 4, 2024. Junta soldiers, military-trained armed Muslim men, and ARSA, RSO, and ARA forces who had together prepared a defence in Maungdaw have been fleeing and surrendering under the AA assault, according to the ethnic armed group.

“The battle for control of Maungdaw was a very difficult position for the AA,” said a young man in Buthidaung. “The AA’s attack on Maungdaw took a long time because it was the rainy season and Muslim terrorist groups were involved, so the regime became powerful. There were a lot of Muslim people, so the AA had to be careful in attacking Maungdaw. There are also foreign Muslim groups and other groups who blame the AA.”

The AA is currently attacking the Maung Shwe Lay naval base in Thandwe Township and Kyeintali Town in Gwa Township. Since launching its offensive in November of last year, the AA has seized nine townships in Arakan State as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State.