Arakha Army (AA) commander-in-chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing expressed deep sorrow on X (formerly Twitter) on the morning of June 10 over the sinking of a boat near Ahlelthankyaw Beach in southern Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, which was carrying children and women who were family members of the Junta forces.
“The situation of MA (Myanmar Army) in Rakhine is karma for its cruelty, but it is very sorrowful for the children and women”, he wrote on X.
The boat, carrying family members of border guard police (BGP) personnel from the Mawyawadi 4th Border Guard Police Battalion (BGP-4) and the Myinhlut 9th Border Guard Police Battalion (BGP-9), capsized near Ahlelthankyaw in Maungdaw town.
Several children and women are currently missing. A border guard personnel live-streamed the situation, and the video is circulating on Facebook.
In the captured footage, the capsized boat was visible, with unconscious children and women on the shore, while the individual filming mentioned that two women and two children are currently unaccounted for.
"BGP-4, BGP-9, and the rest of the troops will be ferried to the landing craft by boat as instructed by the Mawyawadi tactical operation command for the retreat. Orders for withdrawal came from the division commander and the commanding officer. The officers have already embarked on the first landing craft using boats”, he said in the footage.
He stated that Junta officials boarded the landing craft first, and then directed the boats to return to pick up the remaining troops and family members.
“Upon reaching the landing craft, the officers instructed the boats to return and gather the remaining troops. As the boats attempted to load the remaining troops, family members, and the injured onto the landing craft, the officers opened fire on both vessels, preventing any approach. When the boats retreated, a large wave struck, causing one to capsize. We were unable to locate the two women and two children, while two other children were found unconscious”, he said.
The video depicted a scene where some of the children remained unconscious.
“At present, we are unable to confirm the identities of the missing children. The boat capsized, resulting in the drowning of the children. I am unsure if anyone remains trapped beneath the boat. Two wives of policemen and two children are still missing”, the footage taker said in the video.
The video showed many family members, children, and other BGP members alongside the personnel filming, gathered on the shore.
“The self-recorded video from the Junta forces starkly reveals their internal turmoil, the absence of humanity within their ranks, the failure of military leadership, abandonment of their own, and a profound loss of human empathy”, AA spokesperson U Khaing Thu Kha remarked on Telegram.The video is circulating on social networks and receiving many views.
