Khaing Roe La — After the Arakan Army (AA) had released the list of its 13 hostages with photos and video footage of 13 military personnel it captured during a fighting in Paletwa Township, Chin State, the Tatmadaw said it was verifying them.

 

The AA has announced that it has captured 13 military personnel who surrendered including a lieutenant and a warrant officer during a clash with the Tatmadaw in Paletwa Township on 19 November. It is reported that 8 military personnel were killed during the fighting.

 

Clashes erupted between its forces and Light Infantry Battalion 313 based in Yangon Region’s Hmawbi Township on a mountain range located on the western side of Kama creek (locally known as Karama creek) in Paletwa Township, the AA said.

The AA displayed photos of 13 captured military personnel on its website on 25 November and also released a video file and a list describing their photos, names and ranks on 26 November. It also announced that eight military personnel were killed during the fighting.

 

There were casualties during the fierce fighting where military personnel were scattered, the Tatmadaw has now been verifying its personnel, spokesperson of the Western Command Colonel Win Zaw Oo said.

 

“There were reports of casualties because of intense fighting. Our people were scattered all over. I’d like to say that we are now verifying the list of our personnel,” Colonel Win Zaw Oo told the DMG.

He added that the Tatmadaw would keep conducting regional clearance operations in the region if renewed clashes erupted.

 

The AA has offered the Tatmadaw an opportunity to swap abductees. However the Tatmadaw rejected the offer made by the AA and responded that it would not negotiate with terrorist groups.