Military, AA blame each other for burning homes in Maungdaw Twsp village

By DMG 13 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
13 October 2022, Maungdaw

Two homes in Phar Wat Chaung Village, part of Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township, were reportedly set on fire Thursday evening, villagers told DMG, with the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) trading accusations over who was responsible for the alleged arson.

Local residents were told to leave their homes when a military column arrived in the village on the evening of October 13. Some villagers fled to safer locations while others took refuge at the village’s monastery.

Two homes were set on fire about an hour after the military contingent entered the village, said a resident of Phar Wat Chaung Village.

“The villagers were forced to leave their homes when the junta soldiers arrived in the village. The villagers were gathered at the village’s monastery and two homes were set ablaze. At least 40 residents were stranded in the village and other villagers have fled to downtown Maungdaw,” the resident explained.

Soldiers from the military contingent are currently stationed at the village’s monastery and school, said a stranded villager.

“They [junta soldiers] are deployed at the village’s monastery and school. We are prohibited from leaving the village. Some children and women were struck in the village because the military blocked the entry and exit of the village,” he said.

The military has accused the Arakan Army of setting fire to the two homes, contrary to the claims of Phar Wat Chaung Village residents.

“The Arakan Army launched an attack on the military from Phar Wat Chaung Village. The Arakan Army also torched two homes in Phar Wat Chaung Village,” alleged Arakan Daily, a junta-controlled Facebook page. “The military took video and photos of AA troops burning the village.”

Soldiers from the Myanmar military’s Light Infantry Division (LID) No. 77 burned two homes in Phar Wat Chaung Village and conducted interrogations of residents on Thursday, said U Khaing Thukha, spokesman for the Arakan Army.

“There was no fighting near Phar Wat Chaung Village in Maungdaw Township on October 13. Around 100 junta soldiers under LID No. 77 entered the village, torched two homes and conducted interrogations of locals,” the AA spokesperson added.

There are about 80 households and more than 300 residents in Phar Wat Chaung Village.