Arakan Army
The Arakha Army (Burmese: အာရက္ခတပ်တော်; abbreviated AA) is an insurgent group based in Rakhine State (Arakan). Founded on 10 April 2009, the AA is the armed wing of the United League of Arakan (ULA). It is currently led by commander in chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing and vice deputy commander Brigadier General Nyo Twan Awng.[1]
| Arakha Army | |
|---|---|
| အာရက္ခတပ်တော် | |
| Leaders | Twan Mrat Naing[1] Nyo Twan Awng[2] |
| Spokesperson | Khine Thu Kha |
| Dates of operation | 10 April 2009 – present |
| Headquarters | Laiza, Kachin State (currently) Mrauk-U, Rakhine State (planned) |
| Active regions | Chin State,[3] Kachin State, Rakhine State, Shan State, Bangladesh–Myanmar border |
| Ideology | Arakan self-determination |
| Status | Active |
| Size | 20,000+35,000[4] |
| Part of | United League of Arakan(Arakan Army Assistant(AAA) |
| Allies | Northern Alliance[5]
Other allies:
|
| Opponents |  Myanmar
|
| Battles and wars | Internal conflict in Myanmar |
| Website | www |
The AA has been fighting alongside the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) against the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) in the Kachin conflict. Most AA soldiers were originally trained at the KIA Military Academy. Since 2014, the AA has set up its own training camps in Rakhine State. According to the Myanmar Peace Monitor, the AA had more than 1,500 troops in 2014,[8] including personnel stationed in the Rakhine State near Myanmar's border with Bangladesh.[9][10][11] The Irrawaddy stated in September 2015 that the AA had more than 2,500 troops and 10,000 personnel in their civilian wing.[12] In June 2020, the AA chief claimed that the group has more than 20,000 soldiers.
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "About AA". Arakan Army. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ↑ "ARAKAN ARMY ( AA )". Arakan Army. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- ↑ "Internet Blackout Imposed on Myanmar's Restive Rakhine State". Agence France-Presse via Voice of America. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- ↑ "Tour guide turned Arakan Army commander sees nationhood in victory". Coconut Media. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ↑ Lynn, Kyaw Ye. "Curfew imposed after clashes near Myanmar-China border". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- ↑ Mathieson, David Scott (11 June 2017). "Shadowy rebels extend Myanmar's wars". Asia Times. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ↑ Ranjan Sen, Sudhi (7 December 2020). "India Accuses China of Helping Rebel Groups on Myanmar Border". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ↑ Administrator (10 January 2013). "Armed ethnic groups". mmpeacemonitor.org. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ↑ Potter, Richard. "Myanmar: New Front in an Old War". The Diplomat. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ↑ "Far From Home, Arakan Rebels Fight on Kachin Frontline". Irrawaddy.org. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ "Arakan Army Calls for Calm After Bangladesh Border Clash". 28 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ↑ "I Want to Stress That We Are Not the Enemy". 12 June 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.