Police and AA members quarrel at Maungdaw checkpoint

06 Jan 2023

DMG Newsroom
6 January 2023, Maungdaw

An argument broke out when police stopped a vehicle belonging to the Arakan Army (AA) and carrying AA members on the road in front of the Lucky Guesthouse in Maungdaw, Arakan State, at around 8 a.m. on January 6.

“I think the AA members came to Maungdaw for a case and they [AA members] didn’t accept the interrogations at the junta security checkpoint at an entrance to Maungdaw,” said an eyewitness. “About 20 policemen in two vehicles arrived in front of a guesthouse and attempted to stop the AA members. The soldiers on both sides had an argument, but no shots were fired.”

“I was worried that fighting would erupt in downtown Maungdaw. After that, the AA members left in the car, so there was no shooting,” said another eyewitness in Maungdaw.

The military and AA agreed to an informal ceasefire on November 26 on humanitarian grounds, following months of renewed hostilities that began in earnest in August.

A town elder from Maungdaw pointed out that the military regime should not do such an act to prevent further fighting as there is currently a ceasefire between the military and the AA.

“There is no fighting between the military and AA for the time being. It is important for both sides to prevent further fighting,” the Maungdaw town elder added.

DMG continues to attempt to contact Colonel Kyaw Thura, Arakan State minister for Security and Border Affairs, and U Khaing Thukha, spokesman for the Arakan Army, regarding the incident in Maungdaw.

Despite the latest ceasefire, fighting between the military and AA could erupt at any time in Arakan State, U Khaing Thukha has said, prior to and since the latest truce.