AB News – April 2, 2024

On April 2, the Arakan Army issued an emergency statement announcing the indefinite closure of the Ann-Padang Road that connects Rakhine and Burma proper.

The statement says “Now the military has been mobilizing its forces by reinforcement, transferring battalions and ammunition and rations using civilian vehicles, and planting landmines on both sides of the public road that connects Ann, Rakhine, and Magwe Region. Moreover, clashes have begun to occur along the road. Therefore, Ann-Padang Road has been indefinitely closed.”

It has been learned that the fighting that started on November 13, 2023, in Rakhine, continues to this day intensifying daily.

Arakan Army stated that fighting with the fascist group, Terrorist Tatmadaw, which began on March 26 in Ann, Rakhine, and Magwe Region, is still ongoing.

In the face of defeats against revolutionary armed groups throughout the nation, the losing military continues to suffer losses, both in terms of military and diplomatic standing. Despite this, they continue to commit war crimes and harm civilians. To make matters worse, they have been exploiting the newly implemented conscription law by using fresh recruits as human shields, instilling fear in the public, the statement highlighted.

The town of Ann is the border region of Rakhine and also the location of the headquarters of Western Military Command.

On March 18 at 8:30 a.m., Terrorist Tatmadaw destroyed the Ann-Taungup highway by excavating it with a bulldozer.

On March 1, the military utilized a bulldozer to destroy two bridges near Kyaiksakwe Village and Meelaung Chaung Village in Ann Township, on Ann-Sittwe Road. Furthermore, they also demolished two additional bridges positioned at the entrance and exit of Lone Village between Ann and Tat Taung to sever transportation links.

On March 24, the Arakan Army’s offensive advanced towards the headquarters of Western Military Command leading to the fascist military firing artillery shells into the residential areas of Ann and surrounding villages.

Due to the Arakan Army’s offensive near the headquarters of the Western Military Command in Ann township, 15 soldiers were killed and 15 injured from the Terrorist Tatmadaw, AA announced on March 28.

It has been reported that out of 17 townships in Rakhine, 9 of them have been under the control of Arakan Army which is continuing its offensives on Butheedaung and Maungdaw in northern Rakhine as well as Ann, which is home to the headquarters of Western Military Command.

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