BANGKOK — The Arakan Army, a significant ethnic militant group from western Myanmar, declared on Friday that it had achieved a major success in its ongoing conflict with the military regime. This declaration coincided with discussions among neighboring countries in Thailand aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the violence.
The Arakan Army’s seizure of a crucial military headquarters in Rakhine state positions them closer to taking control of the entire region, a feat that has evaded other rebel factions throughout Myanmar’s tumultuous history.
Rakhine state has emerged as a central battleground in Myanmar’s civil war, where pro-democracy fighters and various ethnic armed groups are engaged in combat against the military force that seized power in 2021 by removing the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
The fall of the military headquarters marks yet another setback for the ruling junta, which has faced numerous challenges since rebel groups began their coordinated assaults more than a year ago. This alliance, including the Arakan Army, managed to capture military installations and strategic areas in Shan state, located in northeastern Myanmar.
In August, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army gained significant attention when it became the first group to take a regional command center in the northeastern city of Lashio. Myanmar’s military is structured with 14 regional commands scattered across the country.
Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, reported that the group had “completely captured and controlled the entire western regional military headquarters” located in Ann township by midday on Friday.
Following a two-week encirclement, the military’s headquarters was overtaken, and key military figures, including Brig. Gen. Thaung Tun and Brig. Gen. Kyaw Kyaw Than, were reportedly captured.
This military headquarters was previously responsible for operations in Rakhine state, the southern areas of Chin state, and Myanmar’s territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal. As of now, there has been no official word from the military government about the loss of this significant facility, which remains unverified due to limited access to the internet and mobile services in the region. The Arakan Army has traditionally been cautious in its victory proclamations.
As the military arm of the Rakhine ethnic minority, the Arakan Army seeks greater autonomy from the central government of Myanmar. Their offensive in Rakhine, initiated in November last year, has allowed them to seize control of 13 out of 17 townships, including one in neighboring Chin state.
Rakhine state, formerly known as Arakan, witnessed devastating military crackdowns in 2017, resulting in the exodus of around 740,000 Rohingya Muslims to safety in Bangladesh.
The Arakan Army has also utilized social media extensively to document its advances and has encouraged the military’s holdouts at the headquarters to surrender.
Meanwhile, in Bangkok, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened to revitalize their efforts in restoring peace in Myanmar. This meeting was described as an informal consultation.
ASEAN announced a “Five-Point Consensus” for peace in early 2021; however, the military leaders in Myanmar have largely ignored these proposals, resulting in frustration among other member nations. Consequently, Myanmar’s military-led government has been barred from attending recent meetings, including Friday’s session.
The peace initiative advocates for an immediate halt to hostilities in Myanmar, encourages dialogue among all parties involved, calls for mediation by an ASEAN envoy, aids humanitarian support through ASEAN channels, and grants the special envoy a visit to engage with all stakeholders.
During the Bangkok meeting, foreign ministers and senior officials expressed their ongoing commitment to the Five-Point Consensus.
Critics have voiced their disapproval of ASEAN’s accommodating approach toward the ruling military junta, which has faced global censure for its harsh military tactics and democratic suppression.
Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government (NUG), remarked that achieving a locally led solution is impossible while collaborating with a military regarded as a terrorist organization by many.
The NUG functions as a parallel government and claims to possess greater legitimacy than the ruling military junta.
Bryony Lau, Human Rights Watch’s deputy director for Asia, stated that ASEAN urgently needs to rethink its strategy concerning Myanmar’s ongoing crisis.
“The discussions taking place in Bangkok risk legitimizing a junta that continues to perpetrate war crimes and acts against humanity without facing accountability for its actions against the people of Myanmar,” Lau added.
