All articles tagged with #arakan army
Escalating violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State has forced 45,000 Rohingya to flee amid allegations of beheadings, killings, and property burnings. The UN urges Bangladesh and other countries to provide protection to the refugees, but Bangladesh is reluctant due to already hosting over a million Rohingya. The conflict involves the Arakan Army and the military, with both sides accused of atrocities against the Rohingya.
The Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group in Burma's Rakhine state, has seized the township of Paletwa, which borders India and Bangladesh, declaring it a "Military Council-free area" and signaling the end of the ruling military government's administrative control. The group, part of an armed ethnic alliance, launched surprise attacks on military targets in mid-November, posing a significant challenge to Burma's military rulers since their seizure of power in February 2021. The Arakan Army seeks autonomy from Burma's central government and has gained control of strategic territory in the country's northeast, with Paletwa being the first township reported to fall to the group.
The Arakan Army, an ethnic insurgent group in Myanmar, claims to have captured the town of Paletwa in Chin State, near the border with India, from Myanmar's military forces. This development is part of the group's ongoing offensive against the military and could impact India's development project in the region. The Arakan Army's recent gains pose a significant challenge to the authority of the military, and the junta's ability to restore morale in its ranks remains uncertain.
Renewed fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army has escalated in various townships in western Myanmar, including Pauktaw, leading to civilian casualties and displacement. The clashes have displaced over 26,000 people, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons to approximately 90,000. Humanitarian activities have been suspended, and roads and waterways between townships have been blocked. The conflict, which has been ongoing since February 2021, has resulted in airstrikes, ground attacks, and the destruction of villages, schools, clinics, and hospitals. Civilians, including the sick and elderly, are trapped in the conflict zone, unable to access medical care or return to their homes.