17-11-2023 (YANGON) Myanmar Military Launches Counterattack Against Opposition Alliance in Rakhine State (Yangon) – The Myanmar opposition alliance reported on Friday (November 17) that the military had launched a counterattack against them from the sea and air in an attempt to retake a port town on the Bay of Bengal.
According to Reuters, the “three fraternal alliances” consisting of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, the Arakan Army, and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army in Shan State, released a video on Telegram stating, “This morning we occupied the Pauktaw police station. After the incident, the military used helicopters and a naval ship to fire artillery shells at Baoduo Town.”
The three alliance organizations further claimed that “military junta soldiers entered the town at night and shot civilians.” Reuters was unable to independently verify these claims, and a spokesperson for Myanmar’s junta did not respond to requests for comment.
Baoduo Town is situated in Rakhine State, approximately 500 kilometers away from Yangon, the country’s main city.
A resident of Baoduo Town, quoted by Myanmar’s “The Irrawaddy” magazine, revealed that the Arakan Army guerrillas had previously seized control of the town. The resident stated, “All the residents fled. There was no one in the town, and all the shops are closed.”
The military government of Myanmar is facing its most significant military challenge since seizing power in 2021. On October 27 of this year, various anti-junta armed forces and local armed groups representing ethnic minorities in northern Myanmar initiated “Operation 1027,” launching a coordinated offensive against the Myanmar Army. The conflict has persisted for over two weeks.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated China’s deep concern about the situation in northern Myanmar during a regular press conference on the 16th. China urged the relevant parties to cease fighting promptly, allowing displaced people to return home and resume normal life.
Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for Myanmar’s military junta, accused the rebel alliance of seeking China’s support for their revolution. In a statement on Thursday, Zaw Min Tun claimed, “China is eager to put an end to online fraud activities, and they (the three fraternal alliance organizations) are taking advantage of this situation to strategize and benefit their organizations.”
According to a report from the official media of Myanmar’s military junta on Friday, three leaders involved in telecom fraud in northern Myanmar and wanted by China were arrested by the military junta and handed over to Chinese authorities. The report also mentioned that the fourth leader had allegedly committed suicide out of fear of facing charges.
China Central Television News reported that, with strong cooperation from all parties in Myanmar, Ming Guoping, Ming Julan, and Ming Zhenzhen were successfully captured on Thursday and handed over to Chinese authorities. The Consulate General of Myanmar in Kunming reported that Myanmar coordinated the arrest of Ming Xuechang on Wednesday night, and Ming Xuechang later committed suicide due to fear of prosecution.
