Arakan Army (AA) revealed on December 8 that the Arakan Army joined forces with soldiers from some partner organizations in the Battle of Taung She Taung Strategic Base in Kyauktaw Township which was completely captured by the Arakan Army.
Arakan Army’s statement stated that some revolutionary organizations also actively fought as soldiers to gain military experience in the battle, but it was not specified which organization were the soldiers.
“As the Arakan Army, there have been trainings for PDFs in the past. The Army has officially said things and sent formal messages. There may be PDF soldiers who have been trained by the Army, and there may be soldiers from alliances. We cannot say for sure which organizations,” a person close to the Arakan Army told MPA.
Khaing Thukha, the spokesperson of Arakan Army, was contacted online by MPA on the morning of January 9th, but there has been no reply yet.
Pe Than, a veteran Rakhine political analyst, said, “ULA/AA already has the strength to fight on a large scale. But with the partner organizations that are attacking now, it may be only a few – tens, at least hundreds. It wants to show that they are politically cooperating and working together. The partner organizations also have military experience, and ULA/AA is also an opportunity to show that they have political unity with any partner organization.”
According to the Arakan Army, it has completely captured Taung She Taung strategic base, Tinma Village in Kyauktaw Township, and more than 200 military junta soldiers from the base have surrendered, and a large amount of weapons and ammunition have been confiscated.
“The military junta is not only in Rakhine. The military junta troops are running away without defending, surrendering, and easily being seized the camps all over the country. In Rakhine, the military junta has suffered a lot since before the first cease-fire. If the military junta continues to fight, it will only face defeat,” a political analyst commented.
The Thin Kyit Taw Mountain camp in Mark U was completely occupied on January 7th,, and a large amount of equipment and ammunition belonging to the military junta soldiers was also seized.