Informal ceasefire with Myanmar military ‘not permanent’ solution, Arakan Army says

The Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) agreed to a temporary truce last week following months of hostilities in Rakhine State, according to a representative of the ethnic armed organisation. 

The informal ceasefire was brokered by Nippon Foundation chair Yohei Sasakawa, AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha said at an online press conference on Monday, adding that it went into effect on November 24. 

He said that the group entered into the agreement with the junta after witnessing the suffering experienced by the Rakhine public due to the military-imposed blockade on land and water transport routes amid severe fighting in the region. 

“The AA prioritises the public’s well-being above all else and that is the reason why we entered into a temporary ceasefire agreement with the Tatmadaw for humanitarian reasons,” Khaing Thukha said at the press conference, referring to the military by its name in Burmese.

He added that the AA’s political goal—to regain Arakanese sovereignty—remained the same. 

“Nothing else has changed. Our organisation’s political stance remains unchanged,” the spokesperson said. 

AA commander-in–chief Twan Mrat Naing once stated that it was the organisation’s aim to acquire a confederate state similar to the largely autonomous territory controlled by the United Wa State Army. 

Several AA officials have also famously declared that their organisation would not ask permission from other entities—presumably the Myanmar military—to exercise the Rakhine people’s right to self-determination.

Serious battles took place between the AA and the Myanmar army between 2018 and 2020, until they came to a temporary ceasefire agreement that remained in place for several months.

However, tension rose again in early 2022, with both armies arresting the other’s personnel, ultimately resulting in renewed clashes. 

The Nippon Foundation’s Sasawaka has met with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on multiple occasions and visited Rakhine State in November of last year. He has also met with representatives of several political parties in Yangon. 

The Japanese peace broker is believed to have a close relationship with the military council and met with the leaders of several ethnic armed forces in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in March.

Khaing Thukha emphasised the temporary nature of the current informal ceasefire, noting that fighting could resume if the military council failed to lift either travel restrictions or its blockade on areas throughout Rakhine State including Sittwe, the capital. 

“The ceasefire agreement is not permanent and if they make any move at all, fighting could break out at any time. Therefore, whether or not we will fight with them again will depend on the upcoming situation,” the AA spokesperson explained. 

The AA claimed during Monday’s press conference that at least 26 civilians had been killed and 111 people injured in military attacks over the last three months.

He did not mention any information regarding casualties on the side of the AA.  

“The international community must closely monitor the military’s war crimes, and those who are responsible for such actions must also be held accountable,” Khaing Thukha said, also requesting that the junta release all detained AA personnel. 

Myanmar military cutting off vital maritime lifelines in northern Rakhine State