16 March
The Tatmadaw forces conducting proper security operations around Rakhine State Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw towns engaged in a fierce fighting with an AA insurgent group and captured armaments and remains of AA insurgents.
The Tatmadaw forces also occupied a temporary base camp setup by AA to attack towns, villages and departmental buildings in Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw townships.
About 9 p.m on 7 March, an AA insurgent group led by Aung Zaw Lin arrived near Ponnagyun Township, Pane Ne Taw Village and sent his hard core group members to Ponnagyun Township ward administrators with letters demanding a total of K 65 million from wards in Ponnagyun town within 7 days. If the demand was not met, Ponnagyun town, Tatmadaw regimental headquarters and police stations will be attacked after the completion of matriculation examinations, said the letter.
The local populace reported the matter in a timely manner to Tatmadaw and security forces while refusing to pay the extorsion.
Accordingly security forces spread out and increases security works within and around Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw townships. On 9 March Yotayoke Police Outpost in Ponnagyun Township where only about 11 police forces were stationed was attacked by an overwhelming force of AA. The police outpost was responsible for security in the area, maintaining communal peace, the rule of law and storing exam and answer papers of the ongoing matriculation exam conducted in exam centers in the area.
As information were received of AA insurgents plan to attack ward and village security stations, security forces conducting security operations between Kanzauk and Ponnagyun came into contact with an AA insurgent group and local villagers forcefully conscripted based in a temporary base camp 7000 meter south of Kyauktaw town Kanzawuk village on the afternoon 11 March. The temporary base camp was setup to harass and attack Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw townships.
On 12 March, as the security forces fought to contain the AA insurgents, the AA insurgents attempted repeatedly to encircle the security forces and also blocked a Tatmadaw column sent to reinforce the security force that was engaged in the fight since 11 March.
During the night of 13 March and on 14 March security forces broke through the blockade and counter-attacked the AA insurgents attempting to over-run the position of the security forces containing them. AA insurgents finally retreated in all directors with heavy casualties on the evening of 14 March.
During these engagements, there were some casualties the security forces while armaments, remains of AA insurgents and the temporary base camp setup by AA to attacking towns, villages and departmental buildings in Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw townships was captured. Security forces were continuing security operation in Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw townships according to news released by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services’ Office.—MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)
