Those who commit terror acts should be designated as ‘terrorists’, Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun said at the Tatmadaw True News Information Team in Nay Pyi Taw on 22 February.
“On the one hand, we are working on peace dialogues and talks. But on the other hand, I think those who commit terror acts will stop their work only when they are designated as ‘terrorists’,” he added.
“We can see whether the (AA) Arakan Army’s acts are terror acts or not when we review the AA’s acts. The AA committed the mass arrests of people. The AA gives reasons whenever it arrests the people. The victims are linked to the army. The AA arrests veterans and ex-police members. The AA also stabbed and arrested the police members when they went to the markets. The AA commits terror acts and war crimes. They commit crimes according to the existing law,” he continued.
“The AA set fire to the ship carrying steel trusses for the Paletwa bridge project and arrested the Indian citizens working at the Paletwa bridge project. I think the acts that may hamper the development are worse than the arrests of said people. The future young generations will bear the brunt of low development and education,” he said.
The AA’s major business is narcotic drug trade. The mass arrests of people and the killings of innocent people, drug traffickers and those who hamper regional development should be designated as ‘terrorists’. Tatmadaw is working on the security measures for the peace, stability and development in Rakhine State, he said.
