9 ARSA members captured by AA members as they killed 5 civilians

Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 4 August 2024

The Arakan Army (AA) on 2 August engaged in a clash with Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) after ARSA members  killed five civilians on 31 July.

The AA fighters chased them and it resulted  in  death of several rebels and detention of nine, said a  close source to the AA.

The AA members launched the  clearance operation against the ARSA members on Maungdaw-Kyein Chaung road. Skirmishes occurred at two locations namely Nga Khu Ya and Phar Wut Chaung. Five ARSA rebels were captured near Phar Wut Chaung and four near Nga Khu Ya, while many others were killed in the clash.

The ARSA on 31 July ambushed a car traveling from Kant Kaw Myaing village under  Buthidaung township to Kyein Chaung village under  Maungdaw township. The attack took place near Kyee Kan Pyin (south) village and the victims included a school teacher.

The teacher is identified as Daw Sein Hla Phyu (55). Her  husband U Kyaw Min (55) along with  U Zaw Zaw Min (35, also known as Shwe Thet Ko), Ko Aung Myat San (25) and Ko Aung Myo San (25) also lost their lives. They all hailed  from ward number 4 in Buthidaung locality.

In response to the incident, the AA fighters chased them. The skirmish broke out on the night of 2 August on the Maungdaw-Kyein Chaung road. 

The AA fighters continued their pursuit, leading to a battle near Phar Wut Chaung and Nga Khu Ya, where nine ARSA members were captured alive.

Due to the ongoing conflict, the AA members temporarily restricted travel in northern Maungdaw locality for security reasons. 

A local resident confirmed that the  travel restriction continued. He expressed hope that the roads will be reopened once the situation turns normal.

The junta forces, which lost control over  northern and southern Maungdaw, are allegedly arming ARSA (whom they officially term  as a terrorist group) in an effort to destabilize the region.

The junta provided military training to Muslim youths as well as rebels of  ARSA, RSO and ARA to defend the 5th border guard police battalion and also Maungdaw town.

Local sources claim that  ARSA leader Ashad Ullah was killed in the battle. Moreover, over  300 military-trained Rohingya youths also died in the fighting that took place in outskirt of  Maungdaw on 30 July.

The  junta, in collaboration with the RSO, recruited many young people from refugee camps inside Bangladesh and brought them to Maungdaw. After providing them two weeks long military training, they were prepared  to face AA fighters. Many of those inexperienced youths were killed in the conflict.