A member of the Arakan Army on 30 June returned to a normal life through a Tamadaw column conducting security operations in Kachin State’s Bamaw Township, the Tatmadaw released a statement on 6 July.

The statement said that the AA member decided to leave the AA because he does not believe in the cause and the motives of the AA anymore.

The Tatmadaw has provided him with the required aid to be able to live peacefully in the future and it does welcome more soldiers of the AA to return to civilian life, the Tatmadaw announced.

But, the AA’s spokesperson Khaign Thukha said that the Tatmadaw’s statement was just a propaganda move.

“Members of AA did not do what the Tatmadaw claimed. It is just a complete fabrication and a cheap propaganda ploy. It is the Burmese army’s attempt at psywar aimed at mentally manipulating our people,” Khaing Thukha said.

It has been over six months since the armed conflicts between the Tatmadaw and the AA have occurred, both sides have suffered a lot of casualties, observers said.