The Arakan Army (AA) has warned of more attacks on police outposts throughout Rakhine State until government troops withdraw from its territory.
The warning came in the aftermath of an attack on a border guard post in Rathedaung township on May 29 that killed four police officers dead and left six others missing and presumed captured.
Khaing Thu Kha, AA spokesperson, said its fighters are obliged to attack government troops until they leave Rakhine.
The predominantly Buddhist AA released three civilians seized by its fighters hours after the fighting stopped.
“We have clearly warned the Myanmar government and Tatmadaw (military) to withdraw from our region,” he said. “If they don’t, we will continue to attack police outposts.”
The attack was apparently in retaliation for an attack by the Tatmadaw on the AA in Paletwa township in adjacent Chin State, which the AA also claims as its territory.
Brigadier General Zaw Min Htun, spokesperson of the Tatmadaw’s True News agency, said government troops overran three strongholds of the AA in Paletwa, which would give the Tatmadaw control of Paletwa town and the Kaladan river bridge.
“We need to dominate Paletwa township, where our troops continue to drive out the AA,” he added.
The AA was formed in 2009 to fight for autonomy from the central government, which declared it a terrorist group on March 23.
The government called the AA a threat to the country’s stability, especially Rakhine, because it has killed unarmed civilians and government workers.mmtimes
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