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The Myanmar army has bombed a village in an economic area which is vital for China’s investment in Myanmar, triggering a fire that burned nearly 200 houses, told Radio Free Asia, while the insurgents tightened their grip on the last territory pockets of the Junta in the state of Rakhine.
The Arakan army, or AA, is one of the most powerful ethnic insurgents in Myanmar and has almost achieved its objective of defeating the forces of the junta which seized power in 2021 in the whole of Rakhine.
The two most important Rakhine state bastions in the state are the capital of the State SittweAnd the economic zone of Kyaukpyu, where China has major energy interests and provides for a port on the high seas as a hub for its belt and road development strategy.
AA fighters who are fighting to capture Kyaukpyu are concentrated on a naval base protecting the area, and the soldiers used its navy and its air army to try to repel advanced insurgents.
Late Thursday, the soldiers used a drone to attack fighters in the village of U Gin, on approaches to the naval base, triggering a fire that swallowed nearly 200 houses, residents said.
“Almost the whole village ignited,” said a Kyaukpyu resident about Thursday evening’s attack.
The resident, who refused to be identified for security reasons, said that there had been no reports of victims in the fire, because the residents of U Gin had already abandoned their homes and run away because of the fighting.
The FRG tried to contact the spokesperson for AA, Khhing Thu Kha, and the spokesperson for the Junta for Rakhine State, Hla Thein, to ask questions about the situation, but none answered the publication.
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Tuesday this week, the AA captured at least three out-of-guard protecting the naval base of Danyawaddy, forcing the defense of the forces of the junta to fall back, said another resident who also refused to be identified.
“Now, the junta’s troops are standing in front of the headquarters,” said the resident.
The fall of Kyaukpyu would be a major embarrassment for the junta and would force China to meet AA directly to protect its economic interest.
These interests include oil and gas pipelines which are headed for southern province in southern China, which would be vital for China in the event of war any disturbance of energy expeditions through the Southern China Sea.
The fighting is also heavy around the capital of Rakhine from Sittwe, residents said.
The forces of the junta trying to repel the progress of AA troops attacked the village of War Bo on Thursday on the outskirts of Sittwe, destroying 35 houses, residents said. There was no immediate report of victims.
Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by RFA staff.