Civilians injured by junta artillery in Mrauk-U clashes between military, Arakan Army

A Sunday battle between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military in Mrauk-U, Rakhine State, left at least five civilians injured and several homes damaged, locals said. The ethnic Rakhine armed organisation attacked a police station near Ngwe Taung Pauk village and a junta base located at Thu Daw Ma hill early in the morning. Two Mrauk-U-based Light Infantry Battalions, 377 and 540, retaliated by indiscriminately firing heavy artillery at 4am, with shells falling in the township’s administrative centre. Shells hit a house in Sin Cha Seik ward, wounding four people, according to local media outlet Arakan Princess: Pauk Sa Che, 36; Lin Zaw Tun, 29; Wati Hlaing, 19; and Myo Tun Lin, 14. The nearby village of Ywar Haung Taw was also shelled, injuring a 40-year-old man, Maung Maung Thein. The victims were reportedly sent to Mrauk-U Central Hospital. Artillery also exploded in Lan Lay Khwa Sone ward near the Mrauk-U market, blowing windows out of nearby houses. Locals said that they had heard gunshots across Mrauk-U town on Sunday, particularly from its police stations, starting early in the morning and continuing until 5pm. Much of the population of Mrauk-U had already fled prior to Sunday’s clashes, fearing fighting would intensify around the town. Battles broke out on Ramree Island last week, with the junta deploying its army, navy and air force against the AA and trapping locals in their homes. Fighting also broke out between the AA and the military in Pauktaw on December 13. The junta’s forces have repeatedly fired artillery at villages in Pauktaw, as well as those in Rathedaung, Maungdaw, and Ann townships, injuring several civilians.

Civilians injured by junta artillery in Mrauk-U clashes between military, Arakan Army

The military retaliated against an AA attack on a base and a police station by shelling the surrounding area

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