Fate of Rakhine Capital Hangs In the Balance

By Nava Thakuria, New Age Islam 27 March 2025 India’s eastern neighbour Myanmar (also known as Burma or Brahmadesh) is facing a chaotic situation for the last several months as the poverty stricken country of around 55 million population has been experiencing a civil war. The Land of Golden Pagodas witnesses relentless armed conflicts between the military rulers and armed groups where the common Burmese nationals have also taken guns on their hands to liberate the Buddhist majority nation from a group of military dictators, led by senior general Min Aung Hlaing (functioned as de-facto President of Myanmar), who seized power four years back after ousting a democratically elected government in Naypyitaw. The western province of Myanmar has now turned into a full scale battle ground, where the rebel groups are approaching the capital city of Rakhine/Arakan State after occupying most of the Arakanese townships. The fighters belonging to the Arakan Army (AA) are seemingly preparing for a final assault on Sittwe along with another port city of Kyaukpyu. By now, the ethnic armed group has captured 15 out of 17 major Arakanese localities after defeating the military junta. The AA fighters also seized Paletwa Township of its neighbouring Chin State and most border areas touching Bangladesh. The junta forces taking care of the remaining Arakanese localities are facing a difficult time as they need to wait for reinforcement of soldiers, weapons, food and other supplies. The AA on 20 December 2024 declared that their fighters had captured an important military headquarters (Western Command) in Ann locality. Earlier, another tactical headquarters (North-eastern Command) in Lashio locality of northern Shan State fell to rebel group Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in August 2024. Both the AA and MNDAA are conducting anti-junta operations under the banner of ‘Three Brotherhood Alliance’ along with Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). Termed as ‘Operation 1027’ the massive offensive was launched in late 2023. Following the intervention of China, the TNLA and MNDAA recently announced the ceasefire but the AA continued their offensives in various western Myanmar localities. Lately the AA fighters stepped up offensives in three Rakhine bordering townships under the Ayeyarwady region. Reports of clashes with the junta soldiers also reported from Padaung and Okeshitpin localities in the Bago region. Other ethnic groups and resistance forces also maintained their movements against the junta. Till date, the resistance groups have gained control of nearly 148 townships, leaving only 105 under the junta’s authority, where 78 townships are facing relentless offensives from various anti-junta forces. After losing over 200 military battalion headquarters and important military bases along with over 750 frontline outposts to the revolutionary fighters, the junta soldiers are now conducting indiscriminate airstrikes, artillery shelling and drone attacks on various populated areas. Many villages and urban localities were set on fire across the country, where over 3.5 million people were displaced due to continuous armed conflicts and violence and compelled them to live in temporary shelters facing acute food, medical and other logistic crises. In many relief camps, essential commodities have been prevented or restricted from transporting and distributing among the affected families by the military authorities. Currently, over 20 million people including minors and elders are in growing need of humanitarian assistance. According to the United Nations World Food Program, no less than 15 million people may face hunger in Myanmar by the year's end. The trouble torn Rakhine State supports many billion dollar projects, sponsored by both China and India. Beijing with a cordial relation with the junta continues nurturing the oil & gas pipelines project from Rakhine to their Kunming province and also pushing aggressively for the Belt and Road Initiative in the region. In reality, China is intensifying its investments under the economic corridor, hydropower, connectivity and Kyaukphyu deep seaport project. Needless to mention that, Beijing has moved strategically to engage both the junta and rebel groups with an aim to ensure their business interest. Lately, New Delhi has also taken initiatives to engage with the opposition groups maintaining the relation with the junta for countering Chinese influence in Myanmar and also propagating the India-supported missions including the Kaladan riverine project that resumed connecting the land-locked north-eastern region. ……. Nava Thakuria is a northeast India-based professional journalist who is an engineering graduate. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/current-affairs/myanmar-burma-civil-war-/d/134991 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism