Whether the Arakan Army (AA) has been declared as a terrorist group or not is depended on its actions, said Major General Zaw Min Tun, Deputy Minister for Information and spokesperson of the State Administration Council (SAC).
Major General Zaw Min Tun answered a reporter's question about whether the SAC has a plan to declare the AA, which is fighting together with ARSA, as a terrorist group or not at the press conference of the State Administration Council held at the Ministry of Information in Nay Pyi Taw on September 20.
"The AA was a group that we declared as a terrorist group in the past and then we revoked it from being a terrorist group in November 2020. Regarding this, whether it has been recognized as the terrorist group or not, I would like to say that it will be depended on their actions," Major General Zaw Min Tun said.
There was not a lot of fighting in Paletwa, in the upper part of Kyauktaw and Minbya townships where large-scale battles occurred between the Tatmadaw and the AA group in the past. Currently, fighting is going on in many areas of Buthidaung and Maungtaw in addition to the cooperation with ARSA, Major General Zaw Min Tun said.
Major General Zaw Min Tun said, “It is as we said that we have found the AA is cooperating with the ARSA. I would like to say that the people of Rakhine who want to live in peace need to be aware of this. The Rakhine people know the number of the population of Rakhine ethnic group and the rest of the tribe in those areas in Rakhine State.”
After the AA attack on the border guard camp near BP-40 on August 31, the Tatmadaw is taking the necessary response measures and effective responses will be continued for the stability of the local people, regional stability and security, Major General Zaw Min Tun said.
"They don't want to walk the path of peace, so they first attack the outposts with little number of border guards. There are many plots behind the attack. We already know about those plots. Therefore, we would like to say that we will continue to take the necessary responses," Major General Zaw Min Tun said.
When asked about the issues that the northern alliance groups met at the UWSA headquarters, he said, "The UWSA met with the AA group. We saw the report of the visit of Nyo Tun Aung from the AA to the meeting. Regarding this, we have received the investigation reports. We would like to say that we have received some news from these meetings as well," replied Major General Zaw Min Tun.
