Regime flexes military muscle on Ayeyarwady-Arakan border as AA closes in

By Admin 15 Oct 2024

DMG Newsroom

15 October 2024, Gwa

Since the conflict between Myanmar's military and Arakkha Army (AA) expanded in Arakan State's Gwa Township, the regime has increased its military presence along the border of Arakan State and Ayeyarwady Region, conducting raids and firing heavy weapons, according to local residents.

With an ongoing AA offensive now reaching to within less than 15 miles of Gwa Town, the military regime is reportedly carrying out raids in Ayeyarwady Region's Ngathainggyaung, Yekyi, Kyonepyaw, Chaungtha and Ngwesaung, and has increased troop deployments in the border area.

"The regime is afraid that the AA offensive attack will spread to Ayeyarwady Region," said an internally displaced person (IDP) from Arakan State taking shelter in Ngathainggyaung. "The regime is attempting to prevent the AA offensive from reaching Ngathainggyaung and Chaungtha bordering Gwa Township. The regime has increased its military presence and tightened security checks in townships bordering towns in Arakan State."

A 100-strong military contingent conducted raids in Chaungtha and Ngwesaung on October 6 and 7, locals said.

A source said the regime is intensely scrutinising IDPs from Arakan State after reports of AA troops arriving in Ayeyarwady Region, and there are also checks on hotels and guesthouses in Chaungtha and Ngwesaung.

"Due to reports that AA troops are in Ayeyarwady Region, the regime is strictly conducting security checks on IDPs from Arakan State, checking hotels at night, and patrolling the area," the source added.

The regime often arrests IDPs from Arakan State taking refuge in Ayeyarwady Region under the pretext of enforcing overnight guest reporting requirements.

The military has tightened security checks on Arakanese IDPs at a security checkpoint on the border of Gwa Township and Ngathainggyaung, and junta soldiers have fired mortar shells into nearby villages, locals said.

The regime has sent reinforcements to Gwa to defend against the AA advance, while some junta soldiers from Ayeyarwady Region are said to be deserting their posts as the drumbeats of war grow louder along the border.

According to military sources, Gwa-based military regiments are no longer under the command of the Western Command based in Arakan State's Ann Township, and rather have been taking orders from the Southwestern Command in Ayeyarwady Region's Pathein since September.