The Arakan Army (AA) has instructed the local residents of Kyauk Taw townshipto dig a bomb pit for shelter within a week.
 

The concerned  village administrators of Chaung Tuu,Wyet Ma Nyoo Taung,  Kha Maung Taw, Mi Yet Byint,Pan Pe Chaung, War Daung, Kan Sout, Own Padi, Lan Pike Kwan and ThanByint were issued necessary instructions.

On 13  September, the village administrators of Kyauk Taw township wereasked to proceed for the work and complete within seven days.

"The villagers were asked to dig bomb pits in their villages. The AA’s villagegovernors have  informed every family. If it is not done within a week,they have to face fines. I don't know what kind of fine they will impose,” said a resident.

The AA invited all the village administrators under  Kyauk Taw locality  to its  regionaloffices and directed  them to dig the bomb shelters.

"If the gun fighting resumes, the 539th army based in Kyauk Taw township will fire heavy-shells to thevillages. Local residents have experiencedit in the past,” said another  local resident.

Currently the villages, which  have received the direction to dig bomb pits, have started doing so  undertheir houses, which they think will besafe.

Recently, it’s observed that the battalion number 539, battalion LIB 376 and  sakakha 9 army havebeen checking local people and traffic inKyauk Taw township in a strict manner.

A political analyst said that as the junta forces continue to do so, the situation in Rakhine State willdeteriorate  and hence there is a possibilityof gun fighting between the junta forces and AA members.

Spokesman U Khaing Thukha was contacted for reactions about the digging of  bomb pits, but noresponse was found from the AA.

In November 2022, the military council and AA  reached an understanding and since then aninformal ceasefire is in place, but thatmay be broken soon.

The junta forces are violating various  ceasefire guidelines and they are conducting strict checking, inspecting and even controlling transportationof goods in the Rakhine region. Moreover, the drone reconnaissance of various  locations for AA bases and juntasoldiers’ entry to differentvillages to inquire about AA hideouts have already irked the armed group.