The Western Command has not been included in the theater list of halting military activities as the ARSA terrorist group has been active there, said Brig-Gen Zaw Lin Tun, Deputy Director of Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare.

Some ethnic armed organizations and political parties expressed their deep concerned about the clashes between the government army and the Arakan Army also known as the Arakan State Army and therefore they demanded that Tatmadaw should declare a nationwide ceasefire including the Western Command.

It is known to all that the ARSA terrorist group is active in the area of the Western Command. For that reason, the Western Command is not included in the list of halting military activities. The government officially announced that the ARSA is a terrorist association in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks occurred in Maungdaw. We couldn’t do the whole region because of the existence of the terrorist association there, said Brig-Gen Zaw Lin Tun.

Tatmadaw (defence services) announced on December 21 that they would halt launching military activities in five theaters for more than four months. The Western Command is not included in the list of halting military activities in five theaters. But the AA was recognized as the ethnic armed organization to participate in the political dialogues, said Brig-Gen Zaw Lin Tun.

Brig-Gen Zaw Lin Tun added that the first paragraph of the peace declaration showed the ULA means the AA. It said that NCA signatories and non-signatories would continue conducting negotiations.

The Tatmadaw issued a statement on December 21, saying they would halt all of its military activities from 21 December, 2018 to 30 April 2019 in respective theaters. During that period, ethnic armed organizations in respective theaters are to hold talks on peace including ceasefire with National Reconciliation and Peace Center.

Translated and Edited by Win Htut