AA unable to confirm reported deaths of 100 Muslims at battlefront
"Some reports claim over 70deaths, while others mention over 90 casualties. However, there is no truth tothese claims. While there were casualties during the Rathedaung townshipconflict, the actual number will be around ten,” said AA spokesperson U KhaingThukha.
He admitted that several Muslimyouths were recruited to fight in the frontline around Rathedaung after a briefmilitary training and some of them died.
"Nowthe military junta is providing brief training to the Muslim youths anddeploying them to fight in Rathedaung. We found some of their bodies during theclashes," added Khaing Thukha.
"Theindividuals assisting the Rohingya reported that on 12 March, the AA fightersattacked a boat carrying over 120 displaced Rohingya people near Ah Ngu Maw of Rathedaung locality amid the ongoing clashes between the junta forces andAA members," reported the RFA Burmese.
Khaing Thukha however denied anysuch attack on the boat carrying the displaced Rohingya people.
"There was no attack on theboat carrying the Rohingyas. The media outlet should explain the motive behindsuch a wrong news. No Rohingya boats were attacked by AA fighters," heasserted.
The AAcaptured and now controls the area stretching from Ah Ngu Maw in Rathedaung toButhidaung on the eastern side of May Yu mountain. Likewise, they have alsotaken control of the region from Ah Ngu Maw on the western side of May Yumountain to Inn Din in the southern Maungdaw.
The ongoingfighting is occurring on the eastern bank of May Yu river, with noreported incident of fighting on the western bank.
The junta has enforced conscription laws and continues arresting MuslimIDPs from Rakhine.
Accordingto the local Muslims, after the conscription laws were enforced, many Muslimyouths in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Kyaukphyu and Sittwe were arrested. Later theywere trained and sent to the frontlines.
Photo: Ah NguMaw Jetty
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