Since last January 10th, in the town of Minpya, Rakhine State, the fighting between the Military Council Army and the Rakhine Army (AA) has been fierce every day, and today (January 17th), the air force and Sittwe-based forces are firing a series of missiles, according to local residents. Starting from January 10th, where the Military Council infantry battalions No. (379), (380) and (541) are based in Minpya town, the Military Council is retaliating with the Army, Navy and Air Force.
“The battle is intense every day. It is known that they are attacking about 3 army camps. Because of that, the army and the navy are constantly bombing the area with planes and helicopters 9 to 10 times a day,” said a man who lives in the adjacent township of Pauktaw Township.
Another Rakhine resident said that in addition to repeated aerial bombardment of the fierce fighting in Minpya yesterday, a series of rockets were fired. “Yesterday, it was reported that they fired a series of missiles. The battle is very intense. On the military side, helicopters, They are continuously bombarded by fighter jets,” he said.
The above resident of Pauktaw said that AA intercepted and attacked a navy ship believed to be bringing reinforcements from Sittwe to Minpya near Pauktaw yesterday. Among the 3 battalions based in Min Pia, the 380th Khmer battalion has been attacked by the AA and the remaining two Khmer battalions are being attacked by the AA, according to the local news reports in Arakan media.
Locals say that after the AA took control of the entire Minpya Township, the army camp was attacked and heavily bombarded by air attack support planes. Since January 10, many local residents have been fleeing because of heavy fighting in the city and villages.
At present, many townships in Rakhine state have cut off telephone communications, so many local residents have not been able to communicate with each other in the respective townships. In the same way, the three northern groups announced last night that they bombarded villages such as Bathalay Nyaungpinhla, Pya Chaung Gyi, and Kyeng tha in Yathitaung Township.
The Khah Mah Zah (540) Battalion of the Military Council based in Myauk U also fired and attacked Gaing Taw village in Myauk U Township with heavy weapons and exploded in the fields near the village, injuring a 57-year-old man and a 17-year-old man.
Similarly, on January 15, two men were killed and a pregnant woman and two men were injured in an aerial attack on Myaung Bwe village in Myauk U Township. The fighting in Rakhine State is intense and the local people are being injured and killed every day due to the army’s firing.
Arakan Army captured Paletwa Town Situation
On January 10, after the AA captured all the Military Council’s military bases in Paletwa, in southern Chin State, above the Kalatan River, the city was controlled by the Military Council. Yesterday (January 16th) 3 people, including a child, were killed and 3 injured in an aerial bombardment in Kye Lay village, the Northern Alliance announced. Paletwa Township Member of Parliament Salain Myo Htaik said that since telephone lines have been cut in Paletwa Township, they have not been able to inquire about the conditions of the residents.
“Yes, if there are casualties (Kyi Lay village). It is difficult to say exactly how many people have been affected and killed because we are not in contact with the local people,” said Salai Myo Htaik, the NLD MP who won the 2015 and 2020 elections. At present, the people living in Paletwa, including the nearby Sami town, have not been able to re-enter the town and are still fleeing.
“Right now, because of the military issues and the fear of being bombed, there are very few people who enter the city,” said Salai Myo Htaik. Currently, there are more than 30,000 people fleeing the war in Paletwat Township, and they are facing difficulties in getting food, he said.
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