Arakan Army seizes Myanmar junta tactical base in Paletwa

The Arakan Army (AA) says that it has successfully seized a junta tactical base in southern Chin State’s Paletwa Township, almost a month after the start of its bid for control of the base. In a statement released late Monday, the AA said that it had captured the Hnone Bu tactical base in Paletwa on Sunday, 27 days after it began its attacks on November 14. According to the statement, the base fell to AA forces despite the regime’s use of heavy artillery and airstrikes to defend it. The group said that it found the bodies of a number of junta soldiers inside the base, as well as weapons and ammunition. It added that its own forces also suffered a number of casualties. Last week, the AA announced that it had captured the Tarunaing strategic base, also in Paletwa, on December 4 after three weeks of fighting. Several bodies and large amounts of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment were found at the captured base, which has two helipads, the AA said in a statement. According to AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha, the two bases are of great strategic importance because they are located near key sections of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, an Indian-backed development scheme that will link the Indian port city of Kolkata to Sittwe, capital of Rakhine State. The project is due for completion at the end of this year. On Saturday, junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun denied that the fighting for control of the Hnone Bu tactical base was serious, describing it as a “minor clash.” The AA is a member of the Brotherhood Alliance, which also includes the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army. The three groups have inflicted heavy losses on the Myanmar military since the start of a coordinated offensive in late October. On Monday, Zaw Min Tun claimed that the regime was engaged in talks with the alliance to find a political solution to the conflict. However, it has since been learned that the MNDAA was the only group that took part in a recent Chinese-mediated meeting with junta representatives. According to Myanmar Now’s sources, the talks centred on calls for a ceasefire to last until the end of December and for the withdrawal of regime troops from Laukkai, a town on the China-Myanmar border. The town, which is also the administrative centre of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, has been the scene of intense fighting since late last month. The Kokang SAZ, which is currently ruled by allies of the regime, including many who are wanted by China for their involvement in online scams and other illegal businesses, would then be handed over to the MNDAA, the sources said.

Arakan Army seizes Myanmar junta tactical base in Paletwa

The group says the base fell after nearly a month of fighting despite the regime’s use of heavy artillery and airstrikes to defend it

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