AA commits to protect civilians of Buthidaung regardless of their race or religion

The Arakha Army (AA) reiterated its commitment to protect the civilians stranded in Buthidaung township of Rakhine State irrespective of their religion or races.

"We will help and protect the innocent people, regardless of their religion or races,” said U Khaing Thu Kha, spokesperson for the AA, while responding to Narinjara News.

The junta forces and AA fighters have been  engaging in fierce clashes in  Buthidaung locality, where many urban houses are being torched and local residents remain trapped in their places.

"In the Maungdaw region of Buthidaung, the military junta has been training and also arming terrorist organizations like ARSA, ARA, etc and other radical Muslim groups. These groups, along with the junta soldiers, are now engaged in looting and setting Rakhine families’ houses on fire. This deliberate action is fuelling ethnic and religious tensions between the Muslims and other religious communities,” stated U Khaing Thu Kha.

He pointed out that the Muslims, who seek peace, are not associated with these actions. In fact, they are also affected by the violence in Buthidaung locality. The AA will support and protect anyone striving for a peaceful ambience, asserted the AA spokesperson.

A Hindu resident of Buthidaung stated that the soldiers and junta-supported Muslim terrorist outfits have burnt down thousands of houses belonging to Buddhist and Hindu families.

"The situation in Buthidaung is tense. Despite the AA's siege on various towns, there are numerous junta soldiers, ARSA rebels along with their affiliates, who remain active in the urban areas. During the days of arson, both Rakhine and Hindu residences were deliberately targeted. On the other hand, fire fighters were strategically placed to protect the nearby Muslims owned houses. This kind of blatant discrimination targeting non-Muslim residents of Buthidaung has complicated the crisis. There are many residents in the town, who are now serving as house guards. With no safe shelters, we are worried for our future. Safety and security remain our urgent priorities,” added the resident.

Human rights activist Ro Nay San Lwin also stated that the junta forces in Buthidaung locality continued working with the intention to compel the Muslim residents to join their mission.

"The Muslims are asked to wear military uniforms and then destroy Rakhine shops and houses. The junta has primarily two objectives. First,  use them as human shields and secondly create  conflicts between the Rakhine and Rohingya communities," he added.

Major general Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson of the military junta, has however denied the allegation. The local residents refuted the version of Zaw Min Tun  saying he was not telling the truth.

"Every time the fascist junta attempts to conceal their setbacks on the Rakhine war front, they launch politically charged attacks against our organization (AA). Now they are gradually retreating and hence fostering religious and ethnic tensions in the Rakhine region. We have reports that the junta forces are actively training and arming radical Muslim outfits like ARSA, ARA, etc in Buthidaung, Maungdaw regions,” asserted U Khaing Thu Kha.