AA blames Myanmar junta’s attacks on civilians for failure of peace talks

China’s attempts to mediate a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Rakhine State have so far failed due to the Myanmar military’s targeting of civilians, the Arakan Army (AA) has claimed. Khaing Thukha, the group’s spokesperson, said during an online press conference on Saturday that the regime’s refusal to listen to the AA’s concerns about civilians was the greatest obstacle to ending the fighting. “We told the [junta] generals during the last meeting not to target civilians, a request that they are ignoring to this day, not only in Rakhine State, but also in other areas where we are fighting. Therefore, it is very, very difficult to enter a ceasefire,” he said. China arranged a meeting between the two sides on May 15, but it collapsed over the issue of ensuring civilians safety, AA leader Twan Mrat Naing told VOA’s Myanmar-language service on June 3. “We made a special request for the junta military to cooperate with the AA for the safety of civilians during wartime and to not attack public buildings,” he said, explaining why the talks did not continue despite China’s desire for an end to the conflict. Other observers noted, however, that the AA was unlikely to halt its offensive as long as it continues to make substantial progress against regime forces in the state. “If the AA can keep on taking one town after another, it will be in a stronger position politically. This will make it easier to pressure the other party in meetings,” said veteran Rakhine politician Pe Than. Even local civilians affected by the junta’s relentless shelling and airstrikes say the AA should press forward until it reaches it goal of taking full control of the state. AA troops seen after seizing a junta warship in February 2024 (AA Info Desk) “It’s true that civilians are getting hurt, and nobody wants war. But this is a war for our autonomy, and the AA has yet to capture several towns,” said one man who did not want to be identified. “The junta’s airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks have already destroyed many houses. There is no use in stopping the fight right now. I would like to encourage the AA to continue fighting until they have achieved their goals,” he added. The AA has vowed to seize every junta base in Rakhine State, and is currently fighting in Maungdaw, Ann, and Thandwe townships, the group said in a statement released last Friday. According to the statement, the AA captured five junta bases in the state last week. The fighting has also reached one of Myanmar’s most famous tourist destinations, Ngapali Beach in Thandwe Township, where the regime has fought back with ground, air, and naval forces in a bid to prevent the nearby town of Thandwe from becoming the next to fall to the AA. In its statement, the AA said that despite deploying an elite unit of navy SEALs to defend the town, the military was forced to retreat and suffered heavy losses, including the sinking of speedboat. It also claimed that it killed a total of 500 junta troops in all three townships in the first week of June. Myanmar Now was unable to independently verify the AA’s casualty figures, and the regime has not responded to its claims. Since launching its offensive in November of last year, the AA has seized control of nine of Rakhine State’s 17 townships, as well as Paletwa Township in southern Chin State. “We have already declared that we will attack each and every junta base in the towns and villages of Rakhine State. We are simply claiming back our ancestors’ land,” said Khaing Thukha during the press conference on Saturday.

AA blames Myanmar junta’s attacks on civilians for failure of peace talks

As China attempts to broker a ceasefire, observers say the success of the group’s offensive in Rakhine State makes it unlikely that the fighting will stop anytime soon

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