A New War Rages in Myanmar - Asia Times

1/17/2019 A new war rages in Myanmar - Asia Times
More on this topic

 EST 1995 SOUTHEAST ASIA | A new war rages in Myanmar     
China seeks big-ticket

payback from Myanmar
THE BRIEF BERTIL LINTNER
MAIN LATEST
Myanmar sends more

17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
China will not relax Rakhine State
housing rules as prices BERTIL LINTNER
climb: analysts (Asia
Times Sta )
SOUTHEAST ASIA MYANMAR
ASIA
17-01-2019 07:31
Rebel a acks escalate
UNHEDGED
China must ‘expand
war in Rakhine state
BERTIL LINTNER
domestic demand’
REAL-TIME asWHAT
INTEL ON
economyMOVES MARKETS
shrinks (Asia A new war rages in Myanmar
Times Sta )
4 HOURS AGO The Arakan Army, Myanmar's newest and least known insurgent group, is tilting the already volatile Rakhine region towards all- EVEN MORE
US opened criminal out war
probe of Huawei for
trade secret theft:
report
Case involves years-old

By DAVID SCOTT MATHIESON | YANGON, JANUARY 15, 2019 6:50 PM (UTC+8)       1  633
allegations made by T-
Mobile
7 HOURS AGO
MORE 
China’s military
approaching critical
milestone: US
defense report
RBP
Top o cial expresses fear
that China is ready to test
me le in regional ght;
Beijing criticizes
assessment's 'disregard of cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
We use Ok
facts'
http://www.atimes.com/article/a-new-war-rages-in-myanmar/ h 1/17
More on this topic

9 HOURS AGO

Talk grows of US
EST 1995 SOUTHEAST ASIA | A new war rages in Myanmar     
government
shutdown causing
recession
Policy uncertainty could

THE BRIEF
weigh on investment; 4
million contractors losing
BERTIL LINTNER
pay
MAIN LATEST
MORE 
Myanmar sends more
17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
housingThe
rules daily
as prices BERTIL LINTNER
Report
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31
Must-reads from
across
China must Asia -
‘expand
BERTIL LINTNER
directly
domestic to your
demand’ as
inbox
economy shrinks (Asia
Times Sta )
EVEN MORE
Your Email here
SUBMIT
Arakan Army soldiers take aim from an undisclosed location in Myanmar. Photo: Arakan Army Video
MORE 
CHINA DIGEST
ECONOMICS AND POLICY FROM
CHINA'S NEWSPAPERS he Arakan Army, one of Myanmar’s newest and least known insurgent
T
RBP
groups, has been hurled from obscurity to prominence a er a
2 HOURS AGO series of escalated a acks that threaten to tilt the country’s
China will not relax already volatile Rakhine state towards all-out war.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Ok
housing rules as
prices climb: analysts
70 large and medium-sized
On January 4, Myanmar’s Independence Day from British colonial rule, More on this topic
 year-on-
cities saw a 9.7%
year increase in December
EST 1995 SOUTHEAST ASIA | A new war rages in Myanmar
the Arakan Army staged one of their most brazen and belligerent
    
a acks a er several weeks of expanded ambushes and engagements
3 HOURS AGO
with Myanmar security forces.
THE BRIEF
domestic demand’ as
BERTIL LINTNER
economy shrinks
Must-reads from across Asia - directly to your
Premier Li Keqiang tells
The daily inbox
BeijingMAIN
symposiumLATEST
that
more investment in public Report Myanmar sends more
services and infrastructure is SUBMIT
needed 07:54
17-01-2019
Your Email here troops to troubled
housing rules as prices
3 HOURS AGO
BERTIL LINTNER
In Buthidaung township, in the early morning, Arakan Army soldiers
Times Sta )
Dongguan GDP ‘up
7.5%’ in 2018 staged coordinated a acks on four camps of paramilitary Border

City's total import and
Guard Police (BGP). The military’s media arm, Myawady Daily, reported Rebel a acks escalate
17-01-2019 07:31 exceeded 1.3
export volume
trillion must
China yuan ‘expand on January 5 that Arakan Army insurgents a acked the bases in
BERTIL LINTNER
MORE  greater numbers than reportedly ever used before.
Times Sta )
100 Arakan Army soldiers a acked the BGP base at Ngamyinbaw, 100 at EVEN MORE
Kyaungtaung, 100 at Khahtihla, and 50 at Gokpi, the report said.
Thirteen BGP troops were killed in the a acks, with two of the police
stations completely overrun. The insurgents took a number of
prisoners who were later released as they withdrew. There are no
credible estimates of Arakan Army or state security force casualties in
MORE 
the recent ramped up ghting.
The Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, has responded by deploying an

RBP
unknown number of troops to the area, by road, air and river cra ,
including a number of units from crack Light Infantry Divisions (LIDs)
no’s
We use cookies to ensure that we 22
giveand 99.best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
you the Ok
A ack helicopters have been used by state forces, including during a More on this topic
 EST 1995 SOUTHEAST ASIA | A new war rages in Myanmar
four-hour re ght between 50 Arakan Army soldiers and a Tatmadaw
    
unit in Buthidaung Township on January 13. The size and relative
sophistication of these ambushes came as a surprise to military and
government leaders, who reacted with a show of unusual unity and
THE BRIEF resolve.
BERTIL LINTNER
MAIN LATEST
Myanmar sends more

17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31
BERTIL LINTNER
Times Sta )
EVEN MORE
Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar Commander In-Chief (L) and de facto national leader Aung San Suu
Kyi (R) in a le photo. Photo: AFP/ Phyo Hein Kyaw
MORE  A rare meeting of senior civilian government and military o cials on

January 7, a ended by President Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung
San Suu Kyi, and Commander in Chief Senior General Min Aung
Hlaing, marked possibly the rst assembly of the high level o cials
RBP
since the National League of Democracy government came to power in

March 2016.
According to state media, the o cials discussed “the topic of Rakhine More on this topic
state and border security ma ers”, and the December 21 ‘cease re’
    
called by Min Aung Hlaing to pause Tatmadaw operations from
December 21, 2018 to April 30 of this year to pursue bilateral peace
talks with northern Myanmar-based insurgent groups.
MAIN LATEST
The military has accused other northern ethnic armed organizations
of breaching the December 21 suspension and have tried to cast blame Myanmar sends more
17-01-2019 07:54
on the Arakan Army. The cease re process in the country’s north, troops to troubled
China will not relax northeast and west is e ectively dead, despite the Tatmadaw’s dubious Rakhine State
housing rules as prices overtures. BERTIL LINTNER
Times Sta )
Local commentator Maung Maung Soe told one of Myanmar’s online
17-01-2019 07:31 political talk-shows that this was the rst time the NLD government war in Rakhine state
had formally instructed the Tatmadaw to a ack a speci c armed BERTIL LINTNER
economy shrinks (Asia group, although the civilian government is at times as belligerent as the
Times Sta )
military in demanding recalcitrant rebels capitulate.
EVEN MORE
The president’s spokesman, Zaw Htay, told a press conference on

January 7 that the Arakan Army was a “terrorist organization” that had
contacts with the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), including
an alleged meeting of the two groups in Bangladesh, and that the
government had vowed to “crush the terrorists.”
MORE 
The spokesman further threatened the Rakhine population at large:
“Do they want to see a cycle of violence lasting decades?…I want to tell
Rakhine people who are supporting (the Arakan Army): Don’t think
RBP
about yourself, but think about your next generation.”
The Arakan Army’s political wing, the United League of Arakan (ULA), More on this topic
said in a statement on the same day as the government’s high level
    
security meeting, that it has never had any contact with ARSA while
vowing to continue its resistance against the government.
MAIN LATEST
Myanmar sends more

17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31
BERTIL LINTNER
Times Sta )
EVEN MORE
A Myanmar soldier stands near Maungdaw, north of Rakhine state, September 27, 2017. Photo:
Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun
ARSA stands accused of launching raids on border police outposts in

August 2017 that sparked the Tatmadaw’s now notorious “area
MORE 
clearance” operations in Rakhine state that drive over 700,000
Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh.
The Arakan Army, which has gradually built up a signi cant armed
RBP
presence, with some estimates of as many as 3,000 soldiers in the

region, appears resolute and ready to pursue its so-called ‘Way of
Rakhita’ rebellion against Myanmar state rule.
In an interview with The Irrawaddy magazine on January 10, Arakan More on this topic
Army leader Major General Tun Myat Naing said that Tatmadaw
    
reinforcements were arriving in the area, and that “(I)t is very likely
that future clashes will be erce…we will retaliate.”
“I heard (o cials) say that Rakhine will be completely ruined in the

MAIN LATEST
next 10 years or so, and that Rakhine will meet the same fate as Syria.
So I believe that if they want to destroy our land, we should destroy Myanmar sends more
17-01-2019 07:54
their (majority Burman) land. However, we are open to peace talks if troops to troubled
China will not relax our presence in Rakhine state is recognized.” Rakhine State
Times Sta ) It’s operational presence in key townships of northern and central
Rakhine, including in Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Ponnangyun, and
17-01-2019 07:31 Kyuaktaw townships, along with a strong presence in Paletwa war in Rakhine state
township in Chin state, will make any Tatmadaw operation logistically BERTIL LINTNER
economy shrinks (Asia challenging.

Times Sta )
EVEN MORE
So, too, will the Arakan Army’s suspected access to safe havens in
bordering Bangladesh and India.
Ethnic Rakhine public support for the Arakan Army has been rising in
recent years, and these latest a acks could lead to greater antipathy
towards the Myanmar state and military, further bedeviling Rakhine’s
MORE  immense development challenges and a deteriorating humanitarian
situation.
In a related development, on January 14, the Rakhine High Court

RBP
upheld the decision of a lower court to bring to trial Dr Aye Maung, a

former Arakan National Party leader who is facing charges of high
treason
We use cookies to ensure that andthe
we give you public mischief,
best experience along
on our withIf a
website. prominent
you Rakhine
continue to use writer,
this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Ok
More on this topic


MAIN LATEST
Myanmar sends more

17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31
China must ‘expand Arakan Army leader Major General Tun Myat Naing (R) at a conference of rebel groups on July 26,
domestic demand’ as 2016. Photo: AFP BERTIL LINTNER

Times Sta )
for making anti-government remarks at a public event a year ago. EVEN MORE
Aye Maung had expressed public support for the Arakan Army, speech
that has seen scores of Rakhine political activists and even Buddhist
monks imprisoned for breaches of the colonial era 1908 Unlawful
Association Act.
MORE 
Signi cantly, the appeal of Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe,
both jailed on O cial Secrets Act convictions, was upheld on January
11 in part on the fact that Wa Lone had phone numbers of Arakan Army
leaders in one of his old notebooks.
RBP
The jailed journalist claims he never used the contacts. But this small More on this topic
detail was included in the widely criticized verdict to uphold their
    
internationally condemned seven year sentences.
The government’s counter-terrorist rhetoric against the Arakan Army
is entering dangerous new territory. The only armed group to be

MAIN LATEST
publicly and o cially designated a terrorist organization under the
2014 Anti-Terrorism Law is ARSA. Myanmar sends more
17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31
BERTIL LINTNER
Times Sta )
EVEN MORE
A screenshot from an Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) propaganda video. Photo: Youtube
MORE  The government has refrained from labeling other armed groups
under the 2014 law, potentially to avoid a moral equivalence of
Myanmar’s long- standing ethnic armed rebels with the reviled
Rohingya minority.
RBP
The military-controlled ministry of home a airs reputedly maintains a

secret
We use cookies to ensure that terrorist
we give list,
you the best as wellon
experience asour
a list of reputedly
website. unlawful
If you continue associations.
to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Ok
That opens the possibility of new arrests and investigations under the More on this topic
anti-terror law, as authorities have already done for several years with
    
Rakhine civilians under unlawful associations.
But it is unclear if the AA will be formally designated a terrorist
organization, which would complicate possible future peace talks.

MAIN LATEST
The Tatmadaw’s anti-AA rhetoric is laden with messages of betrayal Myanmar sends more
17-01-2019 07:54 and advantage, claiming that police and army units were con gured to troops to troubled
China will not relax respond to the potential for ARSA a acks, none of which have been Rakhine State
o cially acknowledged by ARSA since an ambush in Maungdaw one
Times Sta ) year ago.

17-01-2019 07:31
Brigadier General Myint Toe, commander of the No 1 Border Guard war in Rakhine state
domestic demand’ as Police Garrison in north Rakhine state, told the Myanmar media, BERTIL LINTNER
economy shrinks (Asia “When we paid a ention to the possible a acks of the ARSA, the AA
Times Sta )
launched well-organized a ack on the police outposts. It was a stab in
EVEN MORE
the back…the AA took political advantage as to its a ack.”
Con ating the Arakan Army with ARSA will likely be detrimental to
Myanmar public perceptions of o en maligned Rakhine grievances
towards the central government, and fuel further resentment from
ethnic Rakhine communities, both inside Rakhine state and among
MORE  large internal migrant worker communities where Rakhine o en toil
in underpaid and unsafe occupations.
International reactions to the January 4 a acks have been largely of

RBP
silent bewilderment at the emergence of a barely understood armed

group that has o en been eclipsed by the humanitarian catastrophe
facing
We use cookies to ensure that the
we give youRohingya minority
the best experience since
on our 2012.
website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Ok
More on this topic


MAIN LATEST
Myanmar sends more

17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31
China must ‘expand Myanmar solders patrol the streets at Thapyuchai village, outside of Thandwe in Rakhine state.
domestic demand’ as Photo: Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun BERTIL LINTNER

Times Sta )
The heads of missions of the European Union and EU delegation has EVEN MORE
been one of only a few Western embassies to call for restraint, saying in
a statement, “The escalation of violence in Rakhine state must stop
immediately. The EU deplores the a ack by the Arakan Army (AA) on
several police posts in Rakhine State, and deeply regrets the loss of
lives. We call for restraint and urge all sides to respect their obligations
under international humanitarian law to protect civilians.”
MORE 
The government continues to restrict access to almost all United

Nations and international relief agencies to the townships a ected by
the recent ghting, where over 5,000 civilians have been displaced in
RBP
the past few weeks. That’s inhibited a credible, impartial humanitarian

response as reports of abuses against civilians mount.
Meanwhile, all the pieces of a political, economic, and humanitarian More on this topic
con ict are aligning in a potentially new and dangerous phase to
    
Rakhine state’s protracted misery. With growing community support
for the Arakan Army’s stru gle, and the almost inevitable dramatic and
abusive overreaction of the Tatmadaw, war could engulf Myanmar’s
THE BRIEF Rakhine state for years to come.
BERTIL LINTNER
MAIN LATEST
David Sco Mathieson is a Yangon-based independent analyst Myanmar sends more
17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
climb: analysts (Asia    
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31 #SOUTHEAST ASIA #MYANMAR #ARAKAN ARMY #RAKHINE STATE #INSURGENCY
#TATMADAW #ROHINGYA REFUGEE CRISIS #AUNG SAN SUU KYI #MIN AUNG HLAING BERTIL LINTNER
economy shrinks (Asia #UNITED LEAGUE OF ARAKAN #LIGHT INFANTRY DIVISIONS #BORDER GUARD POLICE
Times Sta ) #TERRORIST ORGANIZATION #ARAKAN ROHINGYA SALVATION ARMY #TUN MYAT NAING
EVEN MORE
#JAILED REUTERS REPORTERS #EUROPEAN UNION #2014 ANTI-TERRORISM LAW
Comments
MORE 
RBP
SOUTHEAST ASIA PHILIPPINES

More on this topic

Why Filipinos still love Duterte
Philippine leader's approval ratings bounce back after a dip in 2018, just in time to boost his political allies at pivotal mid-term
THE BRIEF
elections
BERTIL LINTNER
MAIN LATEST By RICHARD JAVAD HEYDARIAN | MANILA, JANUARY 15, 2019 5:49 PM (UTC+8)      0 0
Myanmar sends more
17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31
BERTIL LINTNER
Times Sta )
EVEN MORE
MORE 
RBP
More on this topic


MAIN LATEST
Myanmar sends more

17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31
BERTIL LINTNER
Times Sta )
EVEN MORE
A Rodrigo Duterte supporter during presidential election campaigning in Malabon, Metro Manila in the Philippines April 27, 2016. Reuters/Erik De Castro
MORE 
hilippine President Rodrigo Duterte enters 2019 riding high in opinion
P
RBP
polls, a surge in popularity that is buoying the electoral More on this topic
prospects of his political allies ahead of crucial mid-term polls
set for later this year.
The elections, scheduled for May 13, will serve as a de facto referendum More onMalaysian
this topic
caught with
on Duterte’s controversial rule and will determine the balance of power
  fake Philippine
  passport
in the legislature, crucial to advancing the tough-talking leader’s in Manila
China seeks
ASIA TIMES STAFF big-ticket
agenda for the second half of his six-year term.
Must-reads from across Asia - directly to your Filipinos coming to

MAIN LATEST The daily inbox Hong Kong advised not
Report to bring weapons
Myanmar sends more
SUBMIT
17-01-2019 07:54
Your Email here troops to troubled
ASIA TIMES STAFF

The stakes, political analysts say, could not be higher for Philippine Indonesian Abu Sayyaf
Times Sta )
democracy. hostage freed in the
Philippines
17-01-2019 07:31
ASIA TIMES STAFF
China must ‘expand In particular, if Duterte’s Ad
BERTIL LINTNER
economy shrinks (Asia allies win control of the
EVEN MORE
Times Sta ) powerful Senate, now a last
elected bastion of opposition EVEN MORE
to his rule, the president will

be in a position to push for
sweeping and potentially
transformative legal change.
That could include broached

MORE 
revisions to the national
constitution, including a possible removal of legal term limits for
elected o cials, including the president, and a move towards a federal
system of governance.
RBP
A er another year of ery rhetoric, including frequent verbal spats More on this topic
with the Catholic Church in the deeply conservative Christian nation
    
and broadsides directed at critics of his policies, Duterte’s approval
ratings are on an upward trajectory again a er falling o last year amid
various controversies.
CONTINUE READING
MAIN LATEST
Myanmar sends more

17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31
China must ‘expand You May Also Like war in Rakhine state
BERTIL LINTNER
Times Sta )
EVEN MORE
Malaysian caught with fake China seeks big-ticket China will not relax housing
Philippine passport in Manila payback from Myanmar rules as prices climb: analysts
MORE 
RBP
More on this topic


MAIN LATEST
Myanmar sends more

17-01-2019 07:54
troops to troubled
Times Sta )

17-01-2019 07:31
BERTIL LINTNER
Times Sta )
EVEN MORE
MORE 
RBP
http://www.atimes.com/article/a-new-war-rages-in-myanmar/ 17/17

A New War Rages in Myanmar - Asia Times

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

A New War Rages in Myanmar - Asia Times

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1/17/2019 A new war rages in Myanmar - Asia Times

More on this topic

China seeks big-ticket

Myanmar sends more

probe of Huawei for

trade secret theft:

Case involves years-old

More on this topic

Policy uncertainty could

Rebel a acks escalate

prices climb: analysts

7.5%’ in 2018 staged coordinated a acks on four camps of paramilitary Border

Kyaungtaung, 100 at Khahtihla, and 50 at Gokpi, the report said.

The Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, has responded by deploying an

Myanmar sends more

Rebel a acks escalate

MORE  A rare meeting of senior civilian government and military o cials on

since the National League of Democracy government came to power in

The president’s spokesman, Zaw Htay, told a press conference on

about yourself, but think about your next generation.”

Myanmar sends more

Rebel a acks escalate

ARSA stands accused of launching raids on border police outposts in

presence, with some estimates of as many as 3,000 soldiers in the

“I heard (o cials) say that Rakhine will be completely ruined in the

economy shrinks (Asia challenging.

In a related development, on January 14, the Rakhine High Court

upheld the decision of a lower court to bring to trial Dr Aye Maung, a

More on this topic

China seeks big-ticket

Myanmar sends more

Rebel a acks escalate

economy shrinks (Asia

is entering dangerous new territory. The only armed group to be

Rebel a acks escalate

The military-controlled ministry of home a airs reputedly maintains a

organization, which would complicate possible future peace talks.

Rebel a acks escalate

International reactions to the January 4 a acks have been largely of

silent bewilderment at the emergence of a barely understood armed

More on this topic

China seeks big-ticket

Myanmar sends more

Rebel a acks escalate

economy shrinks (Asia

The government continues to restrict access to almost all United

the past few weeks. That’s inhibited a credible, impartial humanitarian

Rebel a acks escalate

SOUTHEAST ASIA PHILIPPINES

More on this topic

Rebel a acks escalate

More on this topic

China seeks big-ticket

Myanmar sends more

Rebel a acks escalate

hilippine President Rodrigo Duterte enters 2019 riding high in opinion

Must-reads from across Asia - directly to your Filipinos coming to

China will not relax Rakhine State

to his rule, the president will

That could include broached

Myanmar sends more

Rebel a acks escalate

More on this topic

China seeks big-ticket