In an interview with The Diplomat, the commander of Battalion 353, based in Buthidaung, admitted that the military council’s forces not only killed numerous innocent civilians in Buthidaung town but also collaborated with ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) in attacking the Arakan Army (AA).
The commander, Major Hlaing Win Tun, was captured alive by the Arakan Army (AA). During an interview with The Diplomat, a foreign news agency, he confessed the following:
“We did kill many innocent civilians. It was done as part of our effort to resist AA. We also collaborated with ARSA forces to set fire to houses in Buthidaung town. Initially, we trained and armed Muslims (Rohingyas). There were over 750 of them in total. After training, these Muslims, along with ARSA, were mobilized to resist AA. The orders to set fire to the houses came from the junta officers Tin Moe Aung and Colonel Khaing Min Zaw.”
Before the conflict erupted, the junta had already trained and armed Muslims to start activities around Buthidaung town, according to the commander.
In addition, he mentioned that during the Buthidaung town conflict, local people’s homes were set on fire, and looting was carried out.
“Villages around Buthidaung town, where Rakhine, Muslim, and Hindu communities lived, were targeted by the junta forces, who claimed they were associated with the Arakan Army (AA). They were arrested, interrogated, and tortured. Some were killed during this process, and others were executed. The operations were led by Colonel Khaing Min Zaw from the junta’s Special Operations Task Force. Our command was different from theirs,” said Major Hlaing Win Tun.
During the battle for Buthidaung, 2,872 homes were destroyed, along with 12 Buddhist monasteries, one mosque, two Hindu temples, and two Christian churches.
Moreover, when the Arakan Army (AA) eventually captured Buthidaung town, they discovered looted items in the homes of civilians, including the residence of an ARSA leader, according to an AA statement.
Currently, the Arakan Army (AA) is also engaged in battles with the military council’s forces and their allies, including Muslim armed groups such as ARSA, ARA, and RSO, to completely take control of Maungdaw town, as stated by the AA.
