According to a news report by theeasternlink.com on April 23, the Arakan Army (AA) in Myanmar gained access to Chinese weapons and ammunition through Bangladesh.
United League of Arakan/Arakan Army, previously deemed as one of many ethnic armed organizations in Myanmar, was officially categorized as an unlawful association and terror group on March 23 by Myanmar's Union Government. The military has been fighting battles with the AA with increasing intensity after the latter had carried out attacks on military columns, police members and security outposts as well as harming civilians by using them as cover, kidnapping, torturing and killing via shootings and landmine attacks.
The easternlink article stated that the consignment of 500 assault rifles, 30 Universal Machine Guns as well as 7,000 rounds of ammunition and tremendous amount of grenades were transported via sea to the Monakhali beach during the third week of February.
It was also reported that 50 insurgents from the AA, along with about 150 Rakhine porters, carried their newly obtained supplies back to the AA Camp in Mro after passing through Gundum, Rejupara, Uhalapalonh and Paglirara.
The AA then reportedly smuggled in their cargo into Rakhine State through the Parva corridor in South Mizoram.
The journey was all done by foot without any interference or interception by the Bangladesh troops as the Bangladesh army rarely send out patrols to these areas while the nearest military garrison is far away, located in Alikadam.
The easternlink also cited sources, claiming that "Bangladesh forces in the area look the other way and do not disturb the AA both because it is a strong force and also because it is creating a huge problem for the Myanmarese forces that generals and admirals in Dhaka and Chittagong may not be very unhappy about".
The article also drew comparison with Indian forces that while India had a stake in Rakhine for the Kaladan Multimodal Project and therefore carry out attacks on AA forces but Bangladesh had no real interest in Rakhine apart from the mass exodus of Bengali Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh following conflicts in Rakhine.
Recently, the AA attacked a WHO-owned vehicle transporting the samples of persons under investigation for COVID-19 in Rakhine State, to Yangon on April 20. According to the information ministry, the attack took place near Yarmaung Jetty at the Yarmaung Bridge, a strategic location where the AA frequently attacks military and civilian vehicles alike.
The vehicle, bearing the United Nations logo, was shot at from a nearby hill which led to the death of the driver Pyae Sone Win Maung and injuring Aung Myo Oo. As flights have ceased due to the COVID-19 situation, they were transporting samples to the National Health Laboratory in Yangon from Sittwe.
