RAKHINE STATE- General Tun Myat Naing, Commander-in-Chief of the Arakan Army (AA), said that people trapped in the military should come and live in the liberated areas.
The Commander-in-Chief said this through a message sent to the 15th Arakan Army Day ceremony on April 10.
General Tun Myat Naing said, “I recommend to those people trapped in enemy-controlled areas such as Sittwe and Kyauk Phyu Towns to come and live in the liberated areas in the near future by any convenient means. We need to make preparations for the decisive battle.”
Arakan Army (AA) had control over Palatwa, Ponnagyun, Kyauk Taw, Mrauk-U, Min Pyar, Myay Pone, Ramree, Yathaetaung, Taung Pyo Towns, and the remaining cities and towns were partially occupied.
Operation 1027 began on October 27, 2023, launched by the three northern alliances, including AA, in northern Shan State. The Resistance War in Rakhine State was launched by AA on November 13.
After that operation, AA has been occupying cities in Rakhine state one after another and continues to launch offensives to occupy other cities.
However, on the other hand, civilians are being killed every day due to the military council’s airstrikes and heavy weapon attacks on those towns occupied by AA.
According to a Rakhine political analyst, the Commander-in-Chief made such a statement to minimize the harm to the people if the fight between military council and the AA escalates.
“The main thing the Commander-in-Chief wants to say is that he doesn’t want the people to be harmed. The terrorist army doesn’t care much about who dies. That’s why the AA’s General asked the people to flee. He wants to lessen the damage,” said the political analyst.