Tatmadaw cannot be blamed if a conflict occurs in Rakhine State, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, Deputy Minister for Information and leader of the Information Team for the State Administration Council (SAC).

Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun made the remarks at a press conference held in Nay Pyi Taw on May 19 in response to a question on whether there was any response to the meetings with the Bengali group and National Unity Government (NUG) by Arakan Army (AA) while the SAC chair called for peace.

"What we are detaining at the moment is that we do not want the Rakhine people to suffer. We are patiently working for peace with the Union. Therefore, if there is a conflict in Rakhine State, don’t tell about bad things on the Tatmadaw,” said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

Regarding the AA, the ceasefire was negotiated by Sasakawa, a Japanese special representative, who was helping to bring peace to Myanmar before the election. Peace has been restored in Rakhine State, which was previously plagued by armed conflict. However, the AA was later found to be interfering with the government's administration, he said.

"Since then, the AA has been interfering in the administration of our government. We were very patient. They are interfering with the judiciary system in the state. Another thing is the AA doing in Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Yathedaung in Rakhine State is persuading and organizing the Bengalis since January 2022. According to our official records, it has happened at least 10 times. We knew the reason why they are organizing the Bengalis. What I want to say about this is sensitive business. We already know what happened there. So far, we all know what is happening,” he said.

In addition, the AA later spoke in a style calling for an armed conflict and threatening the Tatmadaw's Regional Command, he added.

Most of the SAC members, including the current chairman and vice-chairman, have served in Rakhine State. They also know how much the Tatmadaw is involved in development issues in Rakhine State because they understand the situation and developmental delays in Rakhine State. There were records of how the Tatmadaw had acted in the issues happened in Buthidaung and Maungdaw, he said.

As a private matter, the AA leader's wife and child are living in Switzerland, and his father-in-law and former Rakhine State Parliament Speaker U San Kyaw Hla, has asked the SAC for permission to visit Switzerland to meet his daughter and grandson in November 2021. The state leaders granted permission to go, he said.