AA Accused of Stabbing Myanmar Officer and Seizing Soldier in Rakhine State

By Min Aung Khine 11 June 2020

Sittwe, Rakhine State — The Arakan Army (AA) stabbed a military officer and abducted a private soldier in Ponnagyun Township, Rakhine State, on Thursday morning, according to the military-run Tatmadaw True News Information Team.

The incident took place near Aye Zedi Pagoda in Ponnagyun at around 7 am on Thursday, according to Myanmar’s military spokesman, Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun.

“Some soldiers from a battalion in Ponnagyun went to a market in plainclothes. One of them is an officer and the other is a private. The AA troops beat them and handcuffed [the officer] before the stabbing. The police are investigating,” said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

It was later reported that the officer survived and is receiving treatment from the military in Ponnagyun, said the spokesman.

As the government has declared the AA a terrorist organization, The Irrawaddy was not able to contact the armed group for a comment.

“I heard an officer was stabbed and another was abducted near Aye Zedi Pagoda this morning. As residents dare not go outside, we don’t know the details,” said Rakhine State lawmaker U Aung Than Tin for Ponnagyun Township.

Security personnel are reportedly in pursuit of the AA troops that abducted the soldier.

Residents reported hearing gunshots after the incident and the market has closed. Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun said the incident was not unusual.

“It is not uncommon for the AA to act like that. The Yoe Tayoke village police chief in Ponnagyun was also attacked that way. It is evident that those responsible are either AA members or supporters. All those attacked were military personnel, police or civil servants. So there might be instructions in the future [to personnel] to be careful when going out in plainclothes,” said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

Four unknown men robbed a branch of the Kanbawza Bank in Sittwe on Wednesday evening, stealing 180 million kyats [US$129,000], according to the Rakhine State authorities.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko