Junta lobbyists spread disinformation over deadly airstrike on POW camp in Ann

By Admin 13 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom

13 March 2026, Ann

Pro-junta lobbyists are spreading disinformation claiming that the Arakan Army (AA) was responsible for the mass deaths of prisoners at a prisoner of war (POW) detention camp in the Darlatchaung area of Ann Township, Arakan State.

Pro-military propaganda channels have denied that an airstrike occurred, citing an alleged lack of blast craters or shrapnel wounds on the bodies.

They have also claimed that the Arakan Army intentionally burned the camp and executed the prisoners in an attempt to frame the military regime. Such narratives have circulated on Telegram channels including Min Chit Oo, DOROR WADDY MEDIA and Ko Theet.

However, surviving prisoners of war said the military carried out reconnaissance before launching an aerial assault involving eight aircraft, including jet fighters and Y-12 transport planes.

The Arakan Army said the airstrike involved the dropping of hundreds of bombs, killing 166 people including POWs and local detainees and injuring 31 others. Among the dead were several high-ranking Myanmar military officers, including brigadier generals and captains.

“The jet fighters arrived around 11 a.m. and continued bombing until 3 p.m. I survived because I was in a bunker, but I saw everything. When the bombs hit the prison buildings, they caught fire immediately,” said Brigadier General Thaung Tun, the deputy commander of the Western Command who was captured by the Arakan Army when the command fell.

Brigadier General Kyaw Kyaw Than, also from the Western Command, expressed grief over the incident.

“It is heartbreaking to see your comrades die in mass before your eyes. They bombed us knowing exactly where we were. They should never have done this,” he said.

The Arakan Army said it is providing medical treatment to the wounded and has relocated the remaining prisoners to a safer location.

According to the group, the March 8 incident marks the fifth time the military has targeted POW detention sites under the Arakan Army control. Statistics indicate that nearly 250 prisoners and their family members have been killed in such strikes, with hundreds more injured.

Political analysts say the attacks on captured personnel offer no strategic military advantage and may reflect frustration following territorial losses.

“I don’t see what they gain by intentionally bombing soldiers who once served them. It appears to be a desperate act of retaliation for their military defeats,” said a young political analyst.

Observers have also urged the public to remain vigilant against disinformation, noting that the military has been using munitions capable of causing intense fires, similar to recent attacks in Ponnagyun and the bombing of the Kispanadi Bridge in Kyauktaw.