In a significant turn of events, a rebel group in Myanmar reported on Wednesday that dozens of members of the country’s security forces have either surrendered or been captured, marking an escalation in the coordinated offensive by insurgent groups against the ruling junta in various regions.
The Arakan Army (AA), fighting for autonomy in Rakhine State in western Myanmar, claimed that 28 policemen surrendered and handed over their weapons, while 10 soldiers were arrested. The AA is part of a coalition of three ethnic minority insurgent groups that initiated a synchronized offensive against junta forces at the end of October.
Verification of the information provided by the AA remains challenging, as Reuters could not independently confirm the reports. The rebel offensive has gained ground, with the capture of towns and military posts, including those along the border with China, presenting a significant challenge to the junta. Military tanks have been sighted in the Rakhine State capital, Sittwe, leading to the imposition of a curfew by local authorities.
Since the military coup in 2021, which ousted the elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the current situation poses the most substantial challenge to the junta’s authority. In response, a junta spokesperson, Zaw Min Tun, dismissed reports of captured military posts as “propaganda” and accused the rebel groups of “destroying the whole country.” The intensification of hostilities underscores the deepening crisis in Myanmar, with insurgent groups seeking to challenge the military’s grip on power.
