Junta accuses AA of ‘evicting’ Pauktaw residents trapped by fighting

By Admin 22 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
22 November 2023, Pauktaw

Junta spokesman Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun has accused the Arakan Army (AA) of evicting those trapped by fighting from Pauktaw, Arakan State.

The regime spokesman made the remarks regarding the Pauktaw fighting in news reported by the junta-controlled MRTV at 8 p.m. on November 22.

“Residents have lived in Pauktaw for many years. The AA evicted hundreds of residents from Pauktaw to take positions in their homes. The AA has spread conspiracies by evicting the locals and rescuing those who were hiding as hostages,” he said.

The AA said on Wednesday that it could rescue over 100 civilians including Buddhist monks, elderly persons, children, and pregnant women held hostage by the regime in Pauktaw town.

The regime carried out three bombing raids with MiG 35 helicopters and jet fighters around 10 a.m. on Wednesday. A jet fighter also strafed at Lawka Hteikpan Pagoda at around 12 noon.

Fierce fighting was reported in Arakan State’s Pauktaw town on Wednesday as the Arakan Army (AA) carried out an operation to rescue civilians detained by Myanmar’s military regime, local residents told DMG.

“The AA has announced it seized Pauktaw town, but AA fighters retreated from the town when the military and police entered the town. The AA attacked security personnel in Pauktaw yesterday. Security personnel have not been deployed at residential areas in Pauktaw,” Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said.

Hundreds of locals were trapped by fighting as the regime bombarded Pauktaw town after the AA seized the main police station in the town on November 16. The AA is attempting to take back the town from the regime and rescue locals trapped in the town.

DMG continues to attempt to contact U Khaing Thukha, spokesman for the ULA/AA, regarding the junta spokesman’s accusations.

It has been 10 days since the military clashed with the AA in Arakan State and in neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township on November 13.

The Arakan Army (AA) has seized four Border Guard Force outposts and over 40 BGF outposts and police stations within those 10 days of hostilities in Arakan State, the ethnic armed group said in a statement on Wednesday.