Thejunta run military training school (number 9) in MinBya township of Rakhine State had fired heavy weaponsfor two days in a row that frightened the locals as there is aceasefire with the Arakan Army still continuing.

Reasons behind the shooting with heavy weapons are yetto be known. Locals believe that it was none other than the provocation fromthe Burmese army personnel.

The heavy weapons were fired severaltimes in the morning and afternoon hours on 19 and 20October.

A woman from the Nga PhawChaung village, which is near to the training school,said that they could hear the loud sound of shooting sincethe morning hours.

“They firedheavily till 12 noon. Thenresumed it by 1 pm. Second day, they fired for almost the whole day. We are worried about the development,”she added.

The trainingschool often fires heavily on the graduationdays. However, the nearby residents got scared as thejunta forces sometimes open fire w ithout any priornotice.

On 7, 8 June and 12 July, the school indulgedin firing with small and large weapons, but no priornotice was served for the public.

The school was attacked byAA members on 23 March 2020. Some casualties were reported.AA members also seized some guns and later setthe schools on fire.

The military junta and AA leaders have been followinga ceasefire in Rakhine State for about a year. Rakhine people always fear thereturn of the conflict days as the military council started strengthening itsforces with weapons and other supplies.

ULA/AA spokespersonU Khaing Thukha said that if the fighting in Rakhine State returnsdue to the Myanmar army’s military expansion, that will betheir responsibility.