AA continues to provide military training for resistance groups

By Admin 31 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
31 August 2023, Sittwe

The Arakan Army (AA) has been providing military training for resistance groups that emerged following the military coup in February 2021.

Members of the Student Armed Force recently completed a special combat training programme provided by the AA, and officials from the Arakanese ethnic armed group addressed a graduation held on August 28, according to the Student Armed Force.

The Student Armed Force was formed two months after the coup by 22 members of Yangon University Students Union. They underwent military training in areas controlled by the AA in Arakan State, and have been fighting the regime in Magwe and Sagaing regions.

The AA has also provided sniper training for the Bamar People’s Liberation Army led by poet Maung Saung Kha, with the first sniper training completed last month.

“This is the first time in [Myanmar’s] history that revolutionary forces fighting for federalism and democracy have come together. This should be welcomed,” said political analyst U Than Soe Naing. “The AA has been providing military training for Bamar resistance fighters as well as other ethnic resistance forces. Chin ethnic armed organisations are also providing similar training for resistance forces involved in the Spring Revolution.”

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has threatened to take decisive action against ethnic armed organisations supporting the resistance forces collectively known as People’s Defence Forces (PDFs).

The tripartite Brotherhood Alliance, of which the AA is a member, has also provided military assistance and weapons and ammunition to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), according to a message in May from the KNDF on the second anniversary of its founding.

The AA also said on April 24 that it would continue to provide military training and weapons and ammunition to Chinland Defense Force-Mindat as a neighbour.

The AA has also provided military training, weapons and ammunition to at least three other resistance groups in central Myanmar.

“The AA is providing military training to them as their ally, and helping them to fight the common enemy,” said Arakanese politician U Pe Than.

Thousands of young protesters decided to take up arms against the regime after friends, relatives and acquaintances were gunned down by the regime in a series of brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters. Many went to areas controlled by ethnic armed organisations to undergo military training, and have since been fighting the regime across the country.