BANGKOK: A Myanmar ethnic armed group said on Monday it had captured a military command and taken hundreds of junta security personnel as prisoners in western Rakhine state, the latest blow to the military.
Since the Arakan Army (AA) launched attacks on security forces in November, effectively ending a ceasefire that had been in place since the military coup in 2021, Rakhine state has been plagued by persistent clashes.
Despite the military still maintaining control over the state capital Sittwe, AA fighters have made significant territorial gains in surrounding districts, including securing bases along the border with India and Bangladesh.
A video released by the AA’s media channel showcased the capture of “Military Operations Command 15” near the town of Buthidaung, situated approximately 90 kilometers (55 miles) north of Sittwe. While the exact timing of the capture was not specified, local media reports have indicated ongoing clashes in the vicinity of Buthidaung in recent days.
According to messages accompanying the video, after enduring a prolonged siege, junta troops at the military command faced decisive defeat and subsequently surrendered. The footage showed a procession of men, some clad in military attire, traversing through a field in single file. Among them were persons dressed in civilian clothing, and some were seen accompanied by women and children. Instances of injuries were apparent, with makeshift stretchers being used to transport wounded personnel.
Additionally, the video revealed approximately 200 persons seated in rows within a clearing, under the watchful gaze of armed personnel in uniform. Despite attempts to obtain comment from a junta spokesperson, no response has been received from official channels.
The AA represents one of several armed ethnic minority factions operating in Myanmar’s border regions, engaged in protracted conflicts with the military dating back to the country’s independence from British colonial rule in 1948. The AA specifically advocates for greater autonomy for Rakhine state’s ethnic Rakhine population.
Previous clashes between the AA and the military in 2019 resulted in widespread displacement, affecting approximately 200,000 persons. Additionally, Rakhine state gained international attention in 2017 when the military launched a brutal crackdown against the Rohingya minority, leading to accusations of genocide that are now being pursued in a United Nations court.
Since the resumption of hostilities in November, violence has engulfed 15 out of Rakhine state’s 17 townships, resulting in a significant loss of life, injuries, and the displacement of more than 300,000 people, according to statements from the UN’s human rights chief.
