Reported by Arakan Information Center 

July 5, 2020

Sittway, Rakhine State.

Location map of Myanmar troops and battalions operating in Rakhine and Chin State in 2020

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Lists of Battalions and Troops in Different Township

No	Township	Battalion	Number of Troop
1.	Ann	Light Infantry Battalion 80 Military Operation Command 5 Western Military Command	2,500
2.	Buthedaung	Light Infantry Division 22 Military Operation Command 15 Light Infantry Battalion 223, 224, 226, 378, 564, 565	3,000
3.	Gwa	Light Infantry Division 55 Military Operation Command 5 Local based Battalions	1,000
4.	Kyauktaw	LIB11, LID77, MOC9, LIB540, LIB375, 376, 377, 378, AB377	4,500
5.	Kyaukphyu	LID33, LID55, MOC5, IB35, & Danyawaddy Navy Base
6.	Maybon	LID55, AB375, IB34, and Local Battalions	3,000
7.	Minbya	LID44, LID55 and Local battalions	4,000
8.	Mrauk U	LID55, LID11, LID11, LIB377, 535, 539	3,000
9.	Pauktaw	LID55 and Local battalion	1,200
10.	Ponnaygun	LID22, LIB543, LIB550	2,500
11.	Rathedaung	LID22, LID11, MOC9, LIB344, 536, 337, 538	4,500
12.	Sittway	AB373, IB34, LIB252, LIB357	1,500
13.	Than Dway	LID55, MOC5	1,200
14	Toungup	LID55, MOC5, AB734, and Pago Battalions	1,500
15.	Paletwa, Chin State	LID11, LID, 77, MOC9, LIB376. 375, 378, 540 and Local LIBs	4,800
16.	Plecial force, Special intelligent units, and Suppoert team	Special command	18,000
		TOTAL TROOPS	40,000

Introduction

Myanmar army known as Tatmadaw has been launching offensive military operations against Arakan Army in Rakhine and Chin states, Myanmar, since 2019.

 

According to Arakan Army and local military analysts, 40,000 government ground troops and additional troops of Navy, special forces, and intelligent units are operating in Rakhine State and Paletwa township in Chin State. 

These figures of troops are just estimation. The fluctuation of battalions and troops are changing times to times. We cannot be known exact number of troops and battalions operating unless Tatmadaw releases the information. In history, Tatmadaw has never released how many of its troops are operating in the region. 

These figures of 40,000 troops have come out after we studied the reports from Arakan Army, analysts, and the local people since January 2020. These figures of the troop can be less, or even more.  We need further study and survey about it. 

The map also shows the lists of battalions operating in different townships, and we believe it is also helpful us to understand the battalion locations and for at least two to four months of the troop mobilizations since Myanmar army does not have rapid aircraft transportation and none existence of military emergency landing grounds and droop off air fields in the region. 

Arakan Army Mobilizations 

Arakan Army fighters has been penetrating into the southern parts of Rakhine State, mostly into Ann, Gwa, Kyaukphyu, Than Dway, and Toungup township since last winter. Military clashes and remote mines attacks are reported in Ann, Gwa, Kyauk Phyu, and Toungup townships in the summer and this raining season. 

 

The only township there is no military clash and remote mine attack report is Than Dway township, so far. 

 

Out of 14 townships 13 townships have been reported military clashes and remote mine attacks. While adding up Paletwa township in Chin State, there are 14 townships all together have been in conflict zone. 

Local analysts estimate about 8,000 AA fighters are operating in Rakhine and Chin states, mostly in Paletwa, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk U, Ponnaygun, and Rathedaung townships.

Not more than 500 AA fighters are actively operating in the south. But it is vehemently recruiting local residents to support and join AA. It is gradually gaining more supports in the south as well. 

AA claims it has killed 3,000 Myanmar troops including dozens of high ranking military officers since the offensive operations begun in earlier month of 2019.

Local analysts said AA has also lost 150 or more fighters in the battles so far. 

There are many recent reports AA is attacking on military conveys and foot patrolling soldiers in Kyauktaw, Minbya, Maungdaw, Mrauk U, Ponnaygun, and Rathedaung township recently. 

AA also attacked two police stations in Rathedaung and Maungdaw townships in May and June. 

Myanmar Army Shifting Its Operations 

Myanmar army does not attack major bases of AA and strongholds in this season. Rather, the soldiers are searching and arresting villagers and branding as of AA supporters. It seems the army is changing its strategy to target civilians and forced to drive out more villagers in this high season of growing paddies and aiming to insufficient of foods available next year. 

The recent development of clearance operation in Kyauk Tan village tract in Rathedaung township is a significant conduct of aggressive military clearing the civil communities. Tens of thousands of residents have been fleeing and faced of greater hardships in near starvations, insecurity, lack of privacy, loss of private properties and protections, and impact of long terms instability since the operation begun on June 24. 

There are several quiet and unpublicized clearance operations are taken places in Ann, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk U, and Ponnaygun townships. Thousands of villagers cannot live in their villages when Myanmar soldiers are entering and searching their homes and arrest young men and women. Even worse, some villagers are killed and women are rapped. 

Hundreds of villagers in Ann, Kyauktaw, Kyaukphyu, Minbya, Mrauk U, Ponnaygun, Rathedaung, and Toungup townships have been arrests since April and still ongoing. 

It is clear that the “clearance operation” is an aim of clear larger populations in targeted area by the Tatmadaw, regardless of women and children and indifferences between unarmed civilians in populated zones. 

Conclusion

Myanmar troops will continue searching and arresting more villagers throughout the season when it is preparing to launch major operations in coming dry season. 

 

On the other hand, AA is attacking on Myanmar military coveys and foot patrolling troops, and at the same time it is preparing for major defense lines for the coming months.

 

It seems a major showdown of furious fights between AA and Tatmadaw is predominated when the sky is clearer while more troops are bringing up to Rakhine and Chin states in recent weeks. 

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Arakn Information Center (AIC)

61, 1^stFl, Armcorp Mall

18 Persiaran Barat

46050 Pataling Jaya, Selanggor, Malaysia

Tel. +6017 204 4377, Email: [email protected], 

arakan.news.net