Transportation of weapons is unlawful according to AA

By Khaing Roe La 23 Nov 2019

Khaing Roe La | DMG
23 November, Kyauktaw
 
The Arakan Army (AA) attacked six vessels including Tatmadaw’s navy vessels in Kaladan River on 22 November near Pi Kauk Wa village in Kyauktaw township of Arakan State.

The Tatmadaw said the AA attacked three landing crafts and three ships - Shwe Pyi Tan, Taw Win Min Tha Mee and Lai Yan, while they were carrying supplies for the Kaladan Bridge project.

Spokesperson of the AA Khaing Thukha said they will not permit the Tatmadaw to provide arms and supply provisions under the guise of the Kaladan project.

He said they launched an attack as these vessels were travelling as if a military operation was being conducted.

“We have to stop and attack any branch of the armed forces if they are suspected of conducting a military operation because this is a place where fighting occurs,” he said.

The Tatmadaw announced that the bridge of a craft was damaged by an artillery attack.

“AA attacked these vessels with RPGs and rockets near Pi Kauk Wa, the Tatmadaw retaliated when they came under fire. These vessels were carrying things for the development of the region. I want to ask if they don’t want the region to be developed quickly,” said Colonel Win Zaw Oo, the head of Western Command.

The attack aims to thwart the developmental progress that is being undertaken in Chin State, said Colonel Win Zaw Oo.

However, the AA said they do not oppose Kaladan project and the Ministry of Construction should make advance announcements before transporting supplies for the project.

“We issued an announcement about the Kaladan project. We don’t oppose these projects. In this case, we have to fire those who are suspected of conducting military operations in the region,” said Khaing Thukha.

The Tatmadaw vessels fired back and two villagers from Ka Thit Taw village, which is near  where the Tatmadaw and AA exchanged fire, received gunshot wounds, villagers said.

“We saw six vessels travelling at about 7am. We went outside our village to know what happened when we heard the sounds of gunfire. When the last vessel which was near our village fired weapons, we ran into our village. A 70-year-old U Tun Hla Sein who is from northern part of our village was hit. He received injuries to his left calf, the bones are seriously damaged and only little skin is left on the calf,” said a villager from Ka Thit Taw village.

The Tatmadaw and AA accused each other for the two injured villagers.

“We exchanged fire and I don’t know who shot the villagers. It seems probable that AA shot them,” said Colonel Win Zaw Oo.

“As Burmese navy troops fired weapons into the villages, some villagers got injuries,” said AA’s spokesperson Khaing Thukha.

Among two people who received a piece of shrapnel, U Tun Hla Sein, 70, got severe injuries and thus he was transferred from Kyauktaw Hospital to Sittwe Hospital.