YANGON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar armed forces have occupied a temporary base camp of the Arakan Army (AA), a non-signatory to the government's Nationwide Cease fire Accord (NCA), in Buthidaung, Rakhine state, Myanmar News Agency reported Friday.
The 50-strong AA temporary base camp, located about five km southeast of Thayetpyin village, was overrun by a government's military column on Wednesday, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services was quoted as saying.
The military side claimed no casualties but five deaths of AA armed group members, seizing some assault rifles and related accessories.
The military vowed to continue to engage with the AA group for regional stability and security.
A combined force of AA armed group numbering about 100 launched a coordinated attack on the four border police outposts in Nga Myin Baw, Kyaung Taung, Ka Htee Hla and Goke Pi villages in Buthidaung on Jan. 4, killing 13 police forces and wounding nine others. The attack reportedly resulted in the destruction of local residents' houses and loss of livelihood of all ethnic nationals.
The security forces returned fire with the use of two helicopters, forcing the AA to retreat.
The regional police has filed against the AA for the armed attacks under the 1949 Weapons Act and 2014 Counter-Terrorism Law.
AA was in fact among three non-ceasefire signatory Northern Alliance Ethnic Forces, which released a joint statement on Dec. 12 last year, voicing support for the government's efforts for national reconciliation and nationwide peace and expressing their desire to settle military dispute and political matters through dialogue.
The other two are Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
In response of the joint-statement, Myanmar military had announced suspension of all its military action against armed groups in operation areas in five military command regions for over four months starting from Dec. 21, 2018 to April 30, 2019.
