Min Tun — The Arakan Army (AA) offensive targeting the Junta's Chain Khali and Donepike camps in Ratheduang Township launched on November 13, 2023, revived the armed conflict in Rakhine State.

During the ongoing clashes lasting over four months, AA has seized control of hundreds of Junta bases, camps, and outposts, along with capturing Pauktaw, Rathedaung, Ponngyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Ramree, and Paletwa townships. AA also affirmed its relentless pursuit to capture the remaining Junta camps in the region, which are still refusing to surrender.

In the midst of a series of battlefield setbacks across Rakhine State, the Junta has intensified attacks deliberately targeting the people, while stirring up ethnic-based hostility, discrimination, and inciting further conflict.

Junta's Targeted Attacks on People

As the Junta faces losses of bases and townships in Rakhine State, it has initiated a string of attacks specifically targeting civilians.

The Junta's Army, Navy, and Air Force have carried out targeted attacks on civilian areas with daily bombardments and shelling, resulting in the destruction of towns, villages, schools, hospitals, and religious buildings, alongside a surge in civilian casualties, leaving the populace gripped by profound anxiety.

In March alone, hundreds of civilians lost their lives in Sittwe, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Mrauk- U, Minbya, Myebon, Kyaukphyu, and Ramree townships as a result of the Junta's indiscriminate attacks.

On March 25, AA issued a statement accusing the Junta of perpetrating daily acts of violence, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It is evident that the Junta frequently carries out airstrikes primarily targeting towns and villages controlled by AA.

"It appears that the Junta is deliberately hindering the implementation of reconstruction efforts in AA-controlled areas, possibly with the aim of instilling fear among the populace”, a Rakhine social activist said.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) also declared that the people of Rakhine are enduring heightened panic and stress amid the escalating clashes and intensified attacks by the Junta, which include air raids and shelling.

Junta’s Oppressions on Rakhine Populace

Since the revival of armed conflict in Rakhine State, the Junta swiftly imposed blockades on  land routes and waterways, effectively halting the flow of essential goods, food, and medicine in the region, leading to a steep increase in prices.

Certain Rakhine residents faced  extortions by the Junta soldiers, based on unfounded accusations of their alleged connections with AA.

With aid organizations in the region facing movement restrictions and international humanitarian organizations barred from entry by the Junta, hundreds of thousands of war-displaced individuals in Rakhine State are enduring a severe food crisis.

As per UNOCHA’s report, the number of individuals displaced by conflicts in Rakhine State has surpassed 300000, indicating an urgent and critical demand for humanitarian assistance.

Ma Hnin Thazin Hlaing, Vice Chairperson of the Ponnagyun Youth Organization, emphasized the urgent requirement for food, accommodation, and shelter for those displaced by war.

"Some families, completely without food, are forced to wander the villages and beg for food”, she said.

Oppressions Based on Ethnicity

Following AA’s capture of 9 townships, the Junta initiated targeted repression against the Rakhine people, subjecting both mainland and Rakhine State residents to ethnic-based discrimination and oppression. Individuals holding national identification cards (NICs) issued for Rakhine State, prefixed with the number 11/, have been restricted from freely traveling within Myanmar.

On March 18, the Junta issued directives to highway express operators and travel agencies, instructing them not to sell any travel tickets to individuals holding 11/ NICs.

Veteran Rakhine political analyst U Pe Than remarked that the Junta's prohibition on travel, specifically targeting holders of a particular NIC type, constitutes a blatant infringement upon civil rights and exacerbates ethnic tensions.

"The Junta's deep hatred towards Rakhine people is evident, and their escalating losses to AA in the battlefields, drives them to resort to such actions in order to exacerbate ethnic conflicts”, he said.

Ethnic-Based Incitements

Simultaneously, the Junta initiated strategies to create ethnic and religious tensions in Rakhine State by coercing Rohingyas into military service and training, while also manipulating and pressuring them to protest against the AA.

Junta -controlled media reported that Muslims in Sittwe, held an anti-AA protest on March 21st,marching while holding placards and shouting slogans defaming AA. A similar event happened on March 19, where hundreds of Muslims in Buthidaung were observed at an anti-AA protest.

The NUG government has denounced these as fake protests based on military coercion of the long-persecuted Rohingya Muslims. The Muslim community also clarified that these anti-AA protests were carried out under coercion and intimidation orchestrated by the Junta.

A Muslim preacher based in Buthidaung asserted that the Junta orchestrated the these anti AA marches, deliberately fueling conflict between the Rakhine and Rohingya communities.

Echoing a similar sentiment,AA released a statement on March 25, asserting that the Junta compelled Muslims to protest in order to instigate ethnic conflicts.

"The local Rohingya (Muslim) people are protesting due to the pressure and threats from the Junta. We are deeply concerned that our Rakhine siblings might misinterpret this, leading to heightened tensions”, Ro Nay San Lwin, founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition (FRC) said.

AA also cautioned the Rakhine public to remain vigilant against falling into the Junta's traps aimed at inciting ethnic and religious tensions. DMG attempted to reach out to the Junta's spokesperson, Major General Zaw Min Tun, for comment on these issues, but received no response.

Currently, many Muslims in Rakhine are fleeing because the Junta is coercing them into combat training, intending to conscript them into military service.

"Therefore, the entire people must strive to endure and remain resilient during this interim period, working towards ending military dictatorship once and for all," emphasized a Rakhine politician.