Surrender demand of hundreds of soldiers of Myanmar army
Hundreds of Myanmar Army soldiers have surrendered to the Arakan Army as the armed Arakan Army (AA) dominates the fighting across northern Rakhine and southern China state.
Arakan Army spokesperson Khaing Thukha made this claim at a press conference on Monday (September 19). Myanmar-based media "Myanmar Now" has given this information in a report.
He said that the junta military is fighting on multiple fronts across the country. They are no longer able to use as much force as they used to in the Rakhine state war. Fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army has intensified in recent weeks. The Arakan Army has captured several military bases and taken control of strategic transport routes.
Khaing Thukha claimed that at least 10 junta soldiers, including Paletwake officers, left the side with their weapons after the conflict broke out. Many joined their forces even before the fighting began. As many as 90 junta troops joined the Arakan Army before fighting broke out in Rakhine state in May.
However, Myanmar Now noted that it could not independently verify the Arakan Army's claim of defection by junta troops. According to locals, a Myanmar army soldier left his post in Kyauktau township in May. Then in early September two more junta soldiers did the same, along with three officers from the border police outpost in Rathedaung township.The conflict in Rakhine and Paletwa has been at a standstill for nearly 16 months after an undeclared ceasefire that began ahead of November 2020 general elections. But in the past few weeks, the conflict has flared up anew.
Since May, isolated clashes have been going on in Paletwa. Conflict intensified in the Myanmar-India border region in August. At the same time, the conflict has also spread in Maungdoo Township near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
The spokesperson said, we are in a good position at the moment. But the military government continues to increase its troop deployment. The fight could intensify in the coming weeks.
