By Nway / MPA 

Reports indicate that the Myanmar military junta, along with extremist terrorist groups ARSA, RSO, and ARA, have joined forces to attack the Arakha Army (AA).

Despite the military junta having only one remaining camp of Border Guard Force Sub-unit 5 in Maungdaw Town, Rakhine State, extremist armed groups ARSA, RSO, and ARA have set up camps and are hiding in some areas beyond AA’s control and in the dense forested mountains of Maungdaw and Buthidaung. The military junta has been reportedly providing these armed groups with military training and weapons, according to the Arakha Army (AA).

“It’s not surprising that the military junta, which itself engages in terrorism, is now working with extremist groups to fight back. This was expected. There’s nothing that Min Aung Hlaing wouldn’t do in his instinct. Even if the junta troops were entirely driven out of Rakhine State, it seems they intend to leave behind extremist terrorist groups,” said a Rakhine writer to MPA.

Clashes between AA and extremist ARSA armed groups first broke out on October 19 in the mountainous areas northwest of the Muslim village of Kyaru Chaung, Buthidaung Township. Since then, there have been five clashes in the surrounding area, with AA seizing four ARSA strongholds, weapons supplied by the military junta, and some bodies of ARSA members.

These extremist armed groups have reportedly been continuously committing acts of civilian abduction, execution, kidnapping, and extortion.

Clashes between the military junta and the AA are occurring daily around Maungdaw, Ann, and Kyeintali townships, and sporadic fighting continues around Taungup, according to AA.