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The port town Junta, has come under a baffling military siege initiated by a rebel group belonging to the Myanmar ethnic community, as the latter had violent clashes with the forces living in Junta.

The town of Pauktaw, a neighboring one to Junta, has been taken control of by the Arakan Army, as of Wednesday evening, wherein 20,000 residents are counted to live, amidst this being located deepwater port in the capital of western Rakhine state.

A temporary ceasefire was observed when the Arakan Army, captured the town of Pauktaw, which until then only hoped for a ceasefire in the distant future since the military takeover in 2021.

The takeover of Pauktaw by Arakan Army fighters has led to crucial restrictions being placed near checkpoints for traveling to and from Sittwe and Pauktaw, thus leading to the end of the ceasefire initiated with an ad-hoc presentation in November.

According to an anonymous source close to the Arakan Army, the junta troops departed from the town via boat on the evening of January 19. This information was shared with AFP, highlighting the secretive nature of the source's identity. AFP could not verify the claim made by the Arakan Army, and sporadic and undependable connections marked the communication situation in Pauktaw.

The mass exodus has been witnessed in the town of Pauktaw since the events unfolded as around 18,000 people have started to march elsewhere due to the intense fighting in the region as per the United Nations Report back in November 2023. The Junta has yet to ascertain the situation completely and make a comment.


The constant accusations by the opposing groups have to led this massive military and ethnic fallout in parts of the country, as each has been bombarded with accusations of disrespecting the ceasefire, earlier initiated by China. A resident was killed and three others were severely wounded when a naval vessel belonging to the junta fired shells into Thaedan village in Minbya Township around 6 p.m. on Wednesday. and ethnic minority armed groups in northern Shan state, blaming each other for violating a ceasefire facilitated by China. According to the Arakan Army, a resident was killed and three others were severely wounded when a naval vessel belonging to the junta fired shells into Thaedan village in Minbya Township around 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Arakan Army has aimed to achieve more self-rule for the ethnic Rakhine community in the region, as the struggle for independence has only expanded since the set target. Since the independence of the country, and especially of its military forces, constant hatred has been spewed by the opposition forces, believing there is more to the country's history than just gaining independence.

This desire for full-blown independence according to the Arakan Army, has been set to be in conjunction with getting complete authority over the logistics and the supply of jade, drugs, and timber in their territories. Since the evolving concern of Nay Pyi Taw, of getting attacked by the rebel forces, a strategic plan was chalked out by the NUG known as "all roads lead to Nay Pyi Taw". This new setting has brought the military heads of the opposing forces to gravitate towards the usage of extreme methods for controlling their respective desired territories.



Source Credit: NDTV