by Hafizur Rahman
Around Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State, hundreds of Rakhine villages have reportedly been cleared after residents were forced to leave their homes and many settlements were burned and destroyed by troops of the Myanmar Junta, according to local sources.
Residents said there is no Rakhine village left around the city.
The military authorities reportedly said the villages were cleared to prevent the Arakan Army from taking control of Sittwe and to establish strong defensive lines surrounding the city.
According to sources, the military has created three layers of defense in and around Sittwe. These include rural defense positions outside the city, security positions inside the city, and central military bases.
A local Rakhine resident described the situation.
“Whether there is fighting or not, the military columns enter the villages, force everyone to leave, arrest people, and take anyone they want,” the resident said. “Now there is not a single Rakhine village left around Sittwe.”
Reports indicate that residents from villages including Wabo, Spar Hta, Kwun Taung, Nyo Yaung Chaung, Aiden, Yae Chan Pyin, Aung Taing, Kyet Taw Pyin, Palling Pyin, Ohn Yae Phaw, Byine Phyu, and Min Kin Taw were forced to relocate. In total, around 100 villages were reportedly affected.
The military reportedly accused these communities of potentially supporting the Arakan Army and cleared hundreds of villages where tens of thousands of civilians had been living.
Currently, exchanges of gunfire are taking place between the Myanmar Junta and the Arakan Army in rural areas of Sittwe Township. However, according to local sources, the situation has not yet escalated into a full scale battle to capture the city.
With no Rakhine villages remaining around Sittwe, observers say the Arakan Army may face difficulties in launching an operation to take control of the city, as it may lack local information and civilian support in the surrounding areas.
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