Aye Myat Khaing, Narinjara News, 1 January 2024

As the Arakan Army (AA) seized much areas of  Arakan State, several organizations aligned with the junta issued statements opposing the AA through the junta-owned media outlets.

On 31 December, 19 organizations including the Young Men's Buddhist Association (YMBA), Interfaith Dialogue Organization of Myanmar, All Myanmar Islamic Religious Organization, Myanmar Motion Picture Organization, Myanmar Theatrical Organization (Center) and Myanmar Press Council (MPC) released nearly identical statements in the junta-controlled newspapers.

The statements accuse the AA of committing acts of violence during the ongoing conflicts in Arakan State, including the inhumane killing of military personnel, police officers, women, and children, and describe the AA as the most brutal armed outfit.

The junta-allied organizations surfaced after the AA fighters captured 14 townships in Arakan State and Paletwa township in Chin State, leaving only three Arakanese townships (namely Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung) under the junta administration.

A political analyst suggested that due to similarities in the statements issued by these organizations, it is assumed that the junta only wrote the statements.

Those organizations also opposed ‘Operation 1027 and voiced unanimous support for the junta’s call for ‘political resolutions’, which was made in September.