In a dramatic turn of events, the Arakan Army, a powerful ethnic armed group in Myanmar, claimed to have seized control of a town near the border with Bangladesh. The town of Buthidaung, located in the western state of Rakhine, has been a battleground where the Arakan Army clashed with forces of the military government.
The main victims of the fighting in Buthidaung appear to be the state’s Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority, who have faced deadly violence at the hands of the military in the past. Reports suggest that the town was burned, forcing Rohingya residents to flee the area. However, there are conflicting accounts of who is responsible for the destruction.
Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, claimed that his group had captured the town after taking control of military outposts. The Arakan Army, seeking autonomy for the Rakhine ethnic minority, is part of an armed alliance that has recently gained strategic territory in the country’s northeast.
The situation in Buthidaung remains tense, with ongoing fighting on the outskirts of the town as the Arakan Army pursues retreating army soldiers and their allies. The Rohingya population, long marginalized in Myanmar, is caught in the crossfire as tensions between different ethnic groups escalate.
As the conflict unfolds, concerns are growing for the safety and well-being of the Rohingya residents caught in the middle of the violence. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, calling for a comprehensive investigation into the events in Buthidaung and accountability for those responsible for the destruction.