- Web Master
- September 27, 2023
The Arakan Army (AA) has instructed the local residents of Kyauk Taw township
to 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 Than
Byint were issued necessary instructions.
On 13 September, the village administrators of Kyauk Taw township were
asked to proceed for the work and complete within seven days.
"The villagers were asked to dig bomb pits in their villages. The AA’s village
governors 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 regional
offices 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 the
villages. Local residents have experienced
it in the past,” said another local resident.
Currently the villages, which have received the direction to dig bomb pits, have started doing so under
their houses, which they think will be
safe.
Recently, it’s observed that the battalion number 539, battalion LIB 376 and sakakha 9 army have
been checking local people and traffic in
Kyauk Taw township in a strict manner.
A political analyst said that as the junta forces continue to do so, the situation in Rakhine State will
deteriorate and hence there is a possibility
of gun fighting between the junta forces and AA members.
Spokesman U Khaing Thukha was contacted for reactions about the digging of bomb pits, but no
response was found from the AA.
In November 2022, the military council and AA reached an understanding and since then an
informal ceasefire is in place, but that
may be broken soon.
The junta forces are violating various ceasefire guidelines and they are conducting strict checking,
inspecting and even controlling transportation
of goods in the Rakhine region. Moreover, the drone reconnaissance of various locations for AA bases and junta
soldiers’ entry to different
villages to inquire about AA hideouts have already irked the armed group.