Allies and NUG send well-wishes on 13th anniversary of Arakan Army’s founding

By DMG 10 Apr 2022

DMG Newsroom
10 April 2022,Sittwe

The parallel National Unity Government (NUG) and ethnic armed organisations were among those sending messages of felicitation to mark the 13th anniversary of the founding of the Arakan Army (AA) on Sunday. 

The NUG congratulated the ethnic armed group on its 13th birthday, saying the Arakan Army has provided strong leadership for Arakanese people in their fight for equality, autonomy, self-determination and an end to military rule.  

The NUG, effectively a Myanmar government in exile, last month extended an offer to the Arakan Army to hold informal talks, with a focus on how best to go about overthrowing Myanmar’s military regime and establishing a federal democracy. 

At a press conference on April 5, AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha said the ethnic armed group would decide whether to take the NUG up on its offer after the 13th anniversary commemorations. 

“I would like to inform the people that the NUG has offered to cooperate with us. We optimistically welcome the NUG’s offer and at the same time, we also appreciate the people of younger generations trying to root out the military dictatorship,” said U Khaing Thukha. 

AA allies including the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), as well as other armed organisations including the People’s Revolution Alliance (Magway) and Student Armed Force (SAF) also sent messages on the 13th anniversary of the AA’s founding. 

The MNDAA and TNLA, which along with the Arakan Army make up the Three Brotherhood Alliance, said in their messages that they would continue their robust political and military cooperation until their shared goals are achieved. 

The SAF, which was formed by students in Yangon, said their group came into existence with the support of the AA, which provided basic military training to SAF members after the military coup. 

The AA anniversary was celebrated at its temporary headquarters as well as other bases of the armed group.