Narinjara News , November 30 , 2022

The recent informal ceasefire brokered between the UnitedLeague of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) and the military was againmediated through the connections of the Japanese NipponFoundation.

“Mr Sasakawa, the chairman of the Nippon Foundation,brokered the agreement,” said ULA/AA spokesperson U Khaing Thu Kha at thearmed group's sixth press conference on November 28.

Sasakawa also played an important role in securing theprevious ceasefire agreements between ULA/AA and military in 2020 and 2021.

The ULA/AA dismissed rumours that they had given in to aceasefire this time, under pressure from China.

“These allegations arecomplete nonsense. We only worked out the truce for the benefitof(Rakhine) people, to bring them some relief from the current crisis. We havedone it with the welfare of the people in mind,” KhaingThu Kha says.

Observers of the conflict that has affected northernRakhine and southern Chin states for years, have pointed outthat fighting could flare up again at any time, as neither side has beenexplicit about how long the ceasefire will last.

“We cannot say anything specific about it in advancebecause the agreement is not a signed document, it is informal. If one side does somethingaggressive, fighting can resume at any time. Whether thathappens or not depends on what happens in the future,” said Khaing Thu Kha.

Since last August, when fighting resumed, the militaryhas carried out many attacks targeting innocent civilians in Rakhine State.

According to Khaing Thu Kha, 26 people died and 111 were injured between20 September and 27 November. From October until now,the regime has arrested 324 people and released only 85. Meanwhile,junta forces continue to arrest more civilians without cause.