In Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State, the Arakan Army (AA) has instructed local residents, through the village administrators, to dig bomb pits within a week.
The villages instructed to dig bomb pits include Chaung Tuu, Ywet Ma Nyoe Taung, Kha Maung Taw, Mee Yet Pyin, Pan Hpe Chaung, War Taung, Kan Sout, Ohn Pa Tee, Lan Pike Khwin, and Than Pyn in Kyauktaw Township.
On September 13, village administrators in Kyauktaw Township informed local residents that they had one week to complete the digging of bomb pits, according to a resident.
"They have instructed us to dig bomb pits in the village. The administrator of the AA has notified every household. He also mentioned that failure to complete this task within a week will result in fines, although the exact nature of these fines remains unspecified," said a resident.
The Arakan Army (AA) recently called upon village administrators in Kyauktaw Township to attend meetings at AA's regional offices and instructed them to dig the bomb pits.
Another resident of Kyauktaw Township explained, "The reason behind instructing us to dig bomb pits is that in the event of a conflict, the 539th Battalion stationed in Kyauktaw will fire artillery shells. During such instances, these shells could land in nearby villages. To safeguard the local residents from harm, we are advised to take refuge in the bomb pits after the artillery shells have been fired."
Currently, the villages instructed to dig bomb pits have started excavating these pits beneath their houses in what they consider safe locations.
"The individuals who have been tasked with digging bomb pits have begun the process. They were instructed to do this for a specific reason. I cannot predict how the situation will unfold, but after the bomb pits are dug, there is a sense of increased safety," said a local resident.
The Kyauktaw-based 539th Battalion, along with 376th Light Infantry Battalion and MOC-9 of the Military Council in Kyauktaw Township, are said to be conducting more rigorous checks on the movement of local residents compared to previous times.
Political analysts in Kyauktaw Township suggest that the increased strictness of the Military Council's traffic checks could lead to a deterioration in the political situation and a heightened possibility of fighting.
Efforts were made to reach Spokesman U Khaing Thukha for a response regarding the digging of bomb pits, but no response was received from the AA.
In November 2022, the Military Council troops and the AA reached a mutual understanding and implemented a ceasefire.
Currently, according to residents, the Military Council is violating the ceasefire agreements by conducting extensive inspections of residents, closely monitoring and controlling food transportation within the region, using drones for reconnaissance and locating AA military bases, and deploying Military Council troops to enter villages and inquire about the AA military bases.
