Myanmar’s armed group Arakan Army (AA) on Monday accused the military of carrying out attacks on its members despite a ceasefire. The rebels have accused the junta of destroying the environment in Rakhine, the country’s only “stable area” since the rebel Arakan Army coup.
The Myanmar junta has reiterated its call for a ceasefire with the Arakan Army in Rakhine after a coup in February last year. That is why the military has not carried out any repression in the region so far.
The rest of the country has been in turmoil since the coup. The military continues to crack down on dissidents across the country. Armed resistance forces have been formed from among the people. In addition, the army has clashed with old rebel groups in the border areas. The only exception was Rakhine State.
A few days after the military coup, the junta reaffirmed its ceasefire with the AA. But last Friday, troops entered the AA base, a spokesman for the rebel group said. He said the troops entered the village of Mandao and carried out the violence for three hours. Initially, a member of the Arakan Army was killed, the spokesman said.
“Military tensions are high and could escalate into conflict at any time,” he said. It seems that the military is trying to destroy the stability and peace of Rakhine. Meanwhile ,
a military spokesman said a number of border policemen had been killed in a bomb blast on February 4. However, he blamed a group of local Rohingya rebels for the incident. The spokesman, Jao Min Tun, said: “We are still investigating the incident and looking into the presence of AA in the area. ‘
Meanwhile, the Myanmar junta has denied the allegations after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed that Australian economist Sean Turnell had been released through his mediation. Turnell is also on trial with Suu Kyi for allegedly violating state secrets.
Hun Sen said on Monday that Turnell had been released on Sunday. The Cambodian prime minister has demanded that Turnell be released following his meeting with Myanmar’s junta chief Ming Aung Hlaing last month. However, Janta spokesman Jao Min denied the release of Tun Turnell, saying that Hun Sen had raised the issue at the meeting. He added, “Senior General Ming Aung Hlaing has said that he will consider the matter once the legal issue is settled.” ‘
Australian Foreign Minister Maris Penn on Sunday demanded that Myanmar release Suu Kyi’s adviser Turnell immediately.
It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. However, state TV said he had a chance to get secret financial information from the state and that he had tried to flee the country. Source: AFP
