Police personnel and weapons reinforce Arakan State: MPF deputy chief

By Myat Swe 23 Jun 2020

Mrat Swe | DMG
23 June, Sittwe 

More police officers have been deployed to restive Arakan State, where the Arakan Army has launched a number of armed attacks on law enforcement personnel, said Police Maj-Gen Myo Swe Win, deputy chief of the Myanmar Police Force (MPF).                            

In addition to the deployment of reinforcements, additional arms and ammunition were also sent to Arakan State, according to the MPF deputy chief. 

He made the remarks during a press conference held by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw on June 22. 

“Police battalions were deployed to Arakan State after being trained at the police training schools in mainland Myanmar. I am not authorised to publicly reveal the number of troop reinforcements and how the troops are equipped,” Police Maj-Gen Myo Swe Win added. 

The reinforcements come less than two weeks after a police-inspector from the Kyauktaw police force was stabbed to death by two unidentified men on June 13. 

A police major and a police sergeant from the Kyauktaw police station were also stabbed to death in separate incidents just over a month apart last year.  

But the biggest case of police bloodshed last year was the killing of 13 officers when four border guard police outposts in Buthidaung Township were attacked by the Arakan Army on January 4, 2019. Nine other policemen were also injured.  

During those attacks and others, at least 25 policemen were killed and 16 injured, while others were detained by the Arakan Army, a Tatmadaw statement said. 

In its defence, the Arakan Army has often claimed that police stations are now used as major logistical sites for the Tatmadaw’s military operations and are used to provide cover from opposition gunfire. Members of border guard forces are also participating in military operations alongside Tatmadaw troops, so any attacks on police outposts and non-Tatmadaw security personnel are considered legitimate retaliation, the Arakan Army contends.