The Myanmar military’s recent clashes with the Arakan Army (AA) in northern Rakhine state, including shooting and shelling incidents in Mrauk-U township, were counter-insurgency measures against the rebel fighters, according to RFA.

When asked about reports of Myanmar soldiers firing randomly into villages in the historically and religiously significant Mrauk-U on March 18, Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun of the Myanmar military’s True News Information Team, said the army was returning fire from AA units that had ambushed government troops from positions in residential areas and Buddhist temples.

In response to a question about plans to issue a curfew in Mrauk-U and charge civilians under Section 17(1) of the colonial-era Unlawful Associations Act, which carries a prison sentence for those who interact with an illegal group such as the AA, Major General Tun Tun Nyi, deputy head of the information team, said that the matter is being handled by the Ministry of Interior.