Buthidaung: A Burmese artillery battalion was recently shifted to northern Arakan from Burma proper as  reinforcements on the western Burmese border, said a military source.

Artillery Battalion 378 was restationed in the Tet Min Chaung area, a few miles from downtown Buthidaung in northern Arakan.

The battalion was reportedly shifted along with heavy arms and tanks from Rangoon Division last month. Local sources confirmed that the artillery battalion arrived at Buthidaung from Rangoon last month along with heavy artillery, including several cannons placed on army vehicles.

The army authorities confiscated a plot of land for the battalion about one mile square from local farmers. An eye witness said that many buildings have been constructed on the land and many heavy arms are being stashed away there.

The  authorities are currently strengthening the military in  western Burma with army battalions and other government forces.

According to an army source, 13 battalions, including LIBs 551, 552, 345, 352,353, 535, 536,565,564 and 537, are already stationed in Buthidaung Township along with the No. 15 Military Operation Planning Bureau and No. 3 Military Tactical Planning Bureau. The military authorities are also constructing a military airbase in the area.

A military analyst said that the Burmese military regime has reinforced troops along the western border recently despite the absence of strong insurgent groups in the area. It is believe that the reinforcements are intended to balance the  power scale with neighbouring Bangladesh.