Following three murders on the night of 9 September in Ann and Myebon Township, Arakan State, the Tatmadaw announced that the victims were killed by the AA and they were artless villagers without supporting the AA.

Three men were found stabbed to death and their heads were decapitated. They are identified as U Khaing, 39, from Mae Let Maung village in Ann Township, Maung Lone, 40, from Thae Kan Htaung village in Ann Township and U Nyi Nyi Htwe, 40 from Kan Htaung Gyi village in Myebon Township.

The AA denied the allegations of the Tatmadaw. Khaing Thukha, spokesperson of the AA, said that the brutal murder was not connected with the AA and that the Tatmadaw would be the perpetrators because it previously carried out these types on heinous acts.

“It was likely to be committed by the Burma Army. We never did such a cruel act. During the fighting in Yan Chaung, some civilians were killed when their stomachs were slashed open. Additionally, the Burma Army killed civilians from Ponnagyun during the fighting at Lawrama mountain range. The injury to these bodies is similar to previous victims of the Burma Army,” Khaing Thukha said.

U Pe Than, Pyithu Hluttaw representative from Myebon Township, said that the motive for the murders might stem from a personal grudge.

“The murders might have been committed by a third person by making good use of the current conditions. I think the offender did it with the intention to make people scared. The rule of law is getting worse in Arakan State,” he said.

There were seven murders with guns and knives in Myebon Township in 2019, but authorities concerned could not get to the truth, this makes the rule of law in the region appear weak and raises concerns among people, he added.

U Aung Win, Arakan State MP from Myebon Township, said that the latest murders were cruel and people felt that the region grossly lacked safety.

He suggested that authorities should find the culprits as quickly as possible to restore some degree of security in the area

The Tatmadaw’s statement said that the AA killed nine people by gunfire or were stabbed to death; one from Paletwa township’s Tron Aing village in Chin State, one from San Nyin village in Arakan State’s Myebon Township, the head of Tin Nyo police station, one from P Kauk Wa village in Kyauktaw Township,  administrator of Sin Aing village in Kyauktaw Township, two heads of hundred households from Tha Da Seik village in Kyauktaw Township,  two from  War Taung village  in Kyauktaw Township and one sub-inspector in Yoetayote market.