Arakan Army spokesperson Khaing Thukha told DMG that his group is arranging to soon release two Tatmadaw soldiers in its custody as a show of the ethnic armed organization’s compassion.

 

He said the AA will release Corporal U Maung Htwe, 49, and Corporal U Zaw Zaw, 53, because they are elderly and in poor health.

 

“We will release those two according to humanity as they are old and sick. We cannot say when they will be released due to security reasons. We are arranging to release them soon,” said Khaing Thukha.

 

The two corporals are from Pantanaw and Ngapudaw townships in Ayeyarwady Region.

The AA stated that it detained 13 Tatmadaw members, including the two corporals slated for release and an officer from Light Infantry Division No. 77, after a clash on a mountain range southwest of Pakarwa village and to the west of Karmay Creek in Paletwa Township on November 18, 2019.

 

The AA has also proposed a much larger release of all of the Tatmadaw soldiers it has detained during clashes over the past year if the Tatmadaw releases AA members and Arakan State civilians similarly detained.

 

DMG tried to contact Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun, secretary of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team, to ask about the AA’s proposal, but he did not respond.

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(Photo - Arakan Army)