Mizzima

The Arakan Army (AA) said that it rescued 100 civilians being held hostage by the junta in Pauktaw Town, Sittwe District, Rakhine State, on 21 November.

During the hostage’s release, there was intense fighting in Pauktaw Town at around 12:00 p.m. on  21 November. Numerous junta soldiers were killed during the fighting and some AA fighters were injured, according to the AA.

The AA also shared online a picture showing the amount of weapons and ammunition seized from the junta during the fighting.

The junta had been detaining local people in Pauktaw Town and using them as hostages since 16 November. The hostages, who included monks, pregnant women, elderly people and children were held at various locations in the town, including the Lawka Htate Pan Pagoda compound.

Following the fighting and hostage rescue in Pauktaw Town, the junta started firing artillery into the town at 2:00 p.m. on 16 November.

They continued to fire artillery until 10:30 p.m., according to a man who lives near the No. 12 Police Battalion in Sittwe, from where they were firing artillery.

He said: “The No. 12 Police Battalion fired artillery every 10 or 15 minutes. Even my child woke up from the sound of heavy artillery fire. The fired shells could have landed anywhere.”

Mizzima is currently investigating to see where the shells landed and what casualties were caused by the artillery fire.

On 13 November 2023 the AA broke a temporary ceasefire they had signed with the junta in November 2022. Currently, there is heavy fighting between the AA and the junta in northern Rakhine State and there are indications that the fighting may spread to the south of the state.