AA chief accuses regime of attempting to destroy Arakan State

By Admin 11 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
11 April 2024, Sittwe

Facing defeat in various regions in Myanmar, the military regime is fighting with a policy of total destruction during the latest hostilities in Arakan State, said Arakan Army (AA) chief Maj-Gen Twan Mrat Naing.

The AA chief made the remark during an address to mark the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Arakan Army on Wednesday.

“The fascist military regime has established a policy of total destruction in Arakan State and is carrying out violence. The military regime unlawfully arrested, extorted and killed Arakanese people who hold ID cards with 11/ not only in Arakan State but also in other regions,” he said.

He continued that the military regime is attacking towns and villages with terrorist methods such as airstrikes and bombardments.

The military regime has committed war crimes by blocking off land and water routes to Arakan State, carrying out terrorist attacks on public areas and killing innocent civilians illegally, he added.

Twan Mrat Naing vowed to take decisive action to arrest the war criminals and get justice for the people who have lost their lives.

Fighting has been raging in Arakan State for about five months. To date, the AA has seized Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon and Ramree townships in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State.

The regime is targeting civilian buildings unrelated to the military, affecting people’s lives and homes.

“Many innocent civilians are killed in the junta’s frequent airstrikes on Kyauktaw without there being any fighting,” said a resident of Kyauktaw.

The AA has established good alliances with ethnic armed forces and anti-regime forces throughout Myanmar, and there are joint attacks against the regime across the country.

AA chief Twan Mrat Naing urged residents in Arakan State to brace for the decisive battle in the state in his message marking the 15th anniversary of the founding of the AA. The AA chief also told the residents in Sittwe and Kyaukphyu to evacuate to safer places.