Tatmadaw (Defence Services) True News Team said at the press conference that since the Arakan Army (AA) was shooting and attacking security forces and columns of Tatmadaw by taking cover behind Rakhine people in Rakhine State, these people need to be careful and not be exploited by AA.

The Tatmadaw accused AA at the press conference held at Historical Museum in Naypyitaw on March 25 of shooting and attacking Tatmadaw by taking cover behind temples, stupas and pagodas in heritage areas and residential areas in wards and villages so that there could be unnecessary losses and hurt to the people.

He added that Tatmadaw requested people not to let AA stay together with them and report to the nearest security personnel presence of the insurgents in their areas.

But Arakan National Party (ANP) lower house MP from Myebon constituency, Pe Than told Mizzima that AA was not using people and most of the people accepted and supported AA willingly and wittingly so that what Tatmadaw was saying did not reflect the actual situation.

The fighting between AA and Tatmadaw broke out in 2015, and then they have had frequent fighting since late December of 2018.