Arakan Army (AA) new recruits recently completed their four months of basic military training near the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) headquarters of Laiza in Kachin state last Friday. The AA have completed 11 basic training sessions since 2008 when they formed in the KIO controlled territories near the Chinese border.
Eighty Arakanese new recruits, who included three women, learned how to operate guns and other military equipment. They were also taught guerrilla tactics, military discipline, and educated about the history of the Arakanese nationalist movement.
The closing ceremony was attended by high raking KIA, AA, and All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) military leaders.
AA Deputy Chief Colonel Dr. Nyo Tun Aung gave a speech to the new graduates.
Nyo Tun Aung told Narinjara News that military training is necessary for all its soldiers to become good fighters. They need to understand the basic concept of being in the military, especially guerrilla welfare, he said. As a security precaution the colonel would not say just how big the AA is, but the army is believed to have about 1000 soldiers. When asked if the AA will eventually be deployed in Arakan state - currently they are assisting the KIA to fight against the Burma army- the colonel said it was difficult to say due to many factors related to moving to Kachin state from their traditional territories in Arakan state.
Currently the AA is only an ethnic armed group, and not a political party fighting with the government for the Arakanese people. They haven’t signed a ceasefire with the new government.
The AA is not related to the original Arakan Army that was led by the late Khaing Raza. Khaing Raza was assassinated by the Indian army on February 11, 1998.
