Junta conducts airstrikes to silence AA’s prisoners of war

Maung Sar Ga, Narinjara News, 13 September 2024

The military junta's airstrikes targeted the places where the Arakan Army (AA) holds the prisoners of war with an aim to silence them, said AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha.

"The airstrikes on the places where the prisoners of war are held were aimed to cover up the junta’s crimes including mass killings, deliberate burning of towns and inciting religious & ethnic violence. Key witnesses to these crimes are military officers, commanders and others, who followed Min Aung Hlaing’s orders and now the prisoners of war. That is why the junta soldiers are targeting these locations," he added.

The junta conducted airstrikes on the AA’s temporary prison at 2nd border guard police battalion (NaKhaKha-2) in Maungdaw and on the AA’s temporary medical center in Shin village under Pauktaw township. These attacks killed 70 civilians including some prisoners of war.

Narinjara News asked AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha about these two incidents and  he replied as described above.

The airstrikes on 9 September at around 9:30 pm at NaKhaKha-2 battalion killed more than 50 people and injured 70 others.

The victims included the prisoners of war from the battle to capture Maungdaw,  members of ARSA & RSO terrorist groups,  armed personnel trained by the junta, allies of the junta forces, informers trained by the military, individuals arrested for attempting to disrupt the ULA/AA and Arakan national revolution, people associated with the ALP and individuals arrested on suspicion of different illegal activities.

Similarly, on 8 September at around 7:00 pm, the junta struck the AA’s temporary medical center in Shin village, which was treating the prisoners of war and other inmates.

This attack killed 17 people, including some prisoners seeking medical care, informants, those suspected of sending AA information to the junta, convicts, prison officials, AA health workers, and civilians including the children. Ten  people sustained moderate to critical injuries.

"I believe the junta’s main goal is to kill these witnesses," asserted U Khaing Thukha.

He also noted that the AA medical staff are treating those with non-fatal injuries from the airstrikes.

During a visit to Karenni and Shan States on 3, 4 September, junta chief senior general Min Aung Hlaing announced his plans to retake areas controlled by the resistance forces. He urged the people to avoid being used by the armed resistance and to prioritize their safety with the junta forces.

The junta forces conducted airstrikes in Arakan State, northern Shan State, Magway region, Sagaing region, Mandalay region, Karenni State and Bago region.

In response, Three Brotherhood Alliance (3BHA) comprising the AA, issued a message and urged the  people to be cautious about the risk of frequent airstrikes.

Photograph: AA medical staff provide treatment to the wounded individuals after the junta’s airstrikes on AA's temporary prison in  Maungdaw