Myanmar Spring Chronicle – February 9 by MoeMaKa Media:
Ongoing Losses for Military Council in Northern Rakhine State
In the tumultuous northern battlefront of Rakhine State, the military council troops continue to face significant setbacks over the past two months as the Arakan Army (AA) successfully seizes control of key cities and military installations.
Cities such as Pauktaw, Paletwa, Minbya, Kyauktaw, and Mrauk-U have fallen under AA control, accompanied by the capture of strategic military bases, the military operation command headquarters (SaKaKha or MOC), and battalions in these regions. The fierce battles, which originated in Paletwa and Pauktaw, have progressively expanded to encompass Minbya, Kyauktaw, and Mrauk-U, with the military council battalions falling one after another.
Recent days have seen the AA’s takeover of border guard police posts in Taungpyoletwea and Taung Pyo Let Yar in Maungdaw Township, resulting in the reported flight of hundreds of military council policemen to Bangladesh. Notably, over 300 border guard police personnel have sought refuge in Bangladesh. The border guard stations, located near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border along the upper part of the Naf River, hold strategic significance as the westernmost city in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
Video footage captured by Bangladeshi civilians depicts the fleeing security forces, providing a glimpse into the aftermath of the AA’s siege. Additionally, social media posts from Bangladesh include videos showing individuals transporting ammunition from the border guard post during the ongoing conflict. AA’s press release alleged that the police chief of the military council border guard post had reached a verbal agreement to supply weapons and ammunition to the Rohingya armed group ARA as they prepared to withdraw from the camp.
The proximity of residential villages on the Bangladesh side to the westernmost border guard posts in Myanmar’s Rakhine state has enabled villagers to record videos of armed guards fleeing the border guards on their smartphones.
Simultaneously, the military council is losing control of battalions and camps in Mrauk-U and Kyauktaw towns in northern Rakhine State. Reports since February 7 indicate the retreat of the remaining military council troops and their family members from Kyauktaw along the Kaladan River.
However, propaganda Telegram channels and certain Facebook accounts affiliated with the military council began spreading false information on February 9, alleging that villagers near the Kaladan River had killed army family members and policewomen who swam from the river after their boat was attacked while fleeing Kyauktaw. These baseless claims aim to incite hatred between Rakhine and Bamar communities. Pro-military council lobby Telegram channels acknowledged the misinformation.
Unlike previous battles, the current conflict showcases a different dynamic. The AA is strategically positioned with superior weapons and manpower, while the military council contends with battles on multiple fronts, desertions, and surrenders. Given the low morale among military council soldiers, the AA sees a favorable opportunity to aim for control of the entire Rakhine state. Although success is not guaranteed, the prospects are promising.
Rakhine State, endowed with natural gas reserves, a deep-sea port, an energy transportation route to China’s Yunnan Province, flourishing fishing industries, and significant border trade, holds greater promise for the future compared to other autonomous regions in northern Shan State, post-conflict. However, the region remains a battleground, with civilians grappling with loss, injury, and the harsh reality of displacement from their homes.**Myanmar Spring Chronicle – February 10 Developments: Ongoing Losses for Military Council in Northern Rakhine State**
In the tumultuous northern battlefront of Rakhine State, the military council troops continue to face significant setbacks over the past two months as the Arakan Army (AA) successfully seizes control of key cities and military installations.
Cities such as Pauktaw, Paletwa, Minbya, Kyauktaw, and Mrauk-U have fallen under AA control, accompanied by the capture of strategic military bases, the military operation command headquarters (SaKaKha or MOC), and battalions in these regions. The fierce battles, which originated in Paletwa and Pauktaw, have progressively expanded to encompass Minbya, Kyauktaw, and Mrauk-U, with the military council battalions falling one after another.
Recent days have seen the AA’s takeover of border guard police posts in Taungpyoletwea and Taung Pyo Let Yar in Maungdaw Township, resulting in the reported flight of hundreds of military council policemen to Bangladesh. Notably, over 300 border guard police personnel have sought refuge in Bangladesh. The border guard stations, located near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border along the upper part of the Naf River, hold strategic significance as the westernmost city in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
Video footage captured by Bangladeshi civilians depicts the fleeing security forces, providing a glimpse into the aftermath of the AA’s siege. Additionally, social media posts from Bangladesh include videos showing individuals transporting ammunition from the border guard post during the ongoing conflict. AA’s press release alleged that the police chief of the military council border guard post had reached a verbal agreement to supply weapons and ammunition to the Rohingya armed group ARA as they prepared to withdraw from the camp.
The proximity of residential villages on the Bangladesh side to the westernmost border guard posts in Myanmar’s Rakhine state has enabled villagers to record videos of armed guards fleeing the border guards on their smartphones.
Simultaneously, the military council is losing control of battalions and camps in Mrauk-U and Kyauktaw towns in northern Rakhine State. Reports since February 7 indicate the retreat of the remaining military council troops and their family members from Kyauktaw along the Kaladan River.
However, propaganda Telegram channels and certain Facebook accounts affiliated with the military council began spreading false information on February 9, alleging that villagers near the Kaladan River had killed army family members and policewomen who swam from the river after their boat was attacked while fleeing Kyauktaw. These baseless claims aim to incite hatred between Rakhine and Bamar communities. Pro-military council lobby Telegram channels acknowledged the misinformation.
Unlike previous battles, the current conflict showcases a different dynamic. The AA is strategically positioned with superior weapons and manpower, while the military council contends with battles on multiple fronts, desertions, and surrenders. Given the low morale among military council soldiers, the AA sees a favorable opportunity to aim for control of the entire Rakhine state. Although success is not guaranteed, the prospects are promising.
Rakhine State, endowed with natural gas reserves, a deep-sea port, an energy transportation route to China’s Yunnan Province, flourishing fishing industries, and significant border trade, holds greater promise for the future compared to other autonomous regions in northern Shan State, post-conflict. However, the region remains a battleground, with civilians grappling with loss, injury, and the harsh reality of displacement from their homes.
**Myanmar Spring Chronicle – February 10 Developments: Ongoing Losses for Military Council in Northern Rakhine State**
In the tumultuous northern battlefront of Rakhine State, the military council troops continue to face significant setbacks over the past two months as the Arakan Army (AA) successfully seizes control of key cities and military installations.
Cities such as Pauktaw, Paletwa, Minbya, Kyauktaw, and Mrauk-U have fallen under AA control, accompanied by the capture of strategic military bases, the military operation command headquarters (SaKaKha or MOC), and battalions in these regions. The fierce battles, which originated in Paletwa and Pauktaw, have progressively expanded to encompass Minbya, Kyauktaw, and Mrauk-U, with the military council battalions falling one after another.
Recent days have seen the AA’s takeover of border guard police posts in Taungpyoletwea and Taung Pyo Let Yar in Maungdaw Township, resulting in the reported flight of hundreds of military council policemen to Bangladesh. Notably, over 300 border guard police personnel have sought refuge in Bangladesh. The border guard stations, located near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border along the upper part of the Naf River, hold strategic significance as the westernmost city in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
Video footage captured by Bangladeshi civilians depicts the fleeing security forces, providing a glimpse into the aftermath of the AA’s siege. Additionally, social media posts from Bangladesh include videos showing individuals transporting ammunition from the border guard post during the ongoing conflict. AA’s press release alleged that the police chief of the military council border guard post had reached a verbal agreement to supply weapons and ammunition to the Rohingya armed group ARA as they prepared to withdraw from the camp.
The proximity of residential villages on the Bangladesh side to the westernmost border guard posts in Myanmar’s Rakhine state has enabled villagers to record videos of armed guards fleeing the border guards on their smartphones.
Simultaneously, the military council is losing control of battalions and camps in Mrauk-U and Kyauktaw towns in northern Rakhine State. Reports since February 7 indicate the retreat of the remaining military council troops and their family members from Kyauktaw along the Kaladan River.
However, propaganda Telegram channels and certain Facebook accounts affiliated with the military council began spreading false information on February 9, alleging that villagers near the Kaladan River had killed army family members and policewomen who swam from the river after their boat was attacked while fleeing Kyauktaw. These baseless claims aim to incite hatred between Rakhine and Bamar communities. Pro-military council lobby Telegram channels acknowledged the misinformation.
Unlike previous battles, the current conflict showcases a different dynamic. The AA is strategically positioned with superior weapons and manpower, while the military council contends with battles on multiple fronts, desertions, and surrenders. Given the low morale among military council soldiers, the AA sees a favorable opportunity to aim for control of the entire Rakhine state. Although success is not guaranteed, the prospects are promising.
Rakhine State, endowed with natural gas reserves, a deep-sea port, an energy transportation route to China’s Yunnan Province, flourishing fishing industries, and significant border trade, holds greater promise for the future compared to other autonomous regions in northern Shan State, post-conflict. However, the region remains a battleground, with civilians grappling with loss, injury, and the harsh reality of displacement from their homes.