CNI News
16 December 2023
The Hnownbu and the Tron I Byuhar Hills are strategically important to the security and economy of Myanmar, said political and military analysts.
The Arakan Army (AA) stated that it captured the Tron I Byuhar Hill on 4th December, and Hnownbu Byuhar Hill on 10th december, military bases of the Tatmadaw.
The bases are located in Paletwa Township, Chin State and they are on a strategic path that can trade with India and Bangladesh. The Tatmadaw had strongly built those bases and the AA might have lost to an extent, Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP) told CNI News.
" The AA might have paid a lot in order to capture the Tron I and Hnownbu bases. It looks like many lives have been paid. It was also reported that a military strategist from the Tatmadaw. The bases can also become big killing fields. It is very dangerous to the AA. It is necessary to negotiate at a time like this. Senior officials will have to think about it." he said.
Paletwa Town
The importance of the two bases is that they are the places to control the Kaladan Project of Myanmar and India. Because of its ability to capture these bases, the AA was able to control the project, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.
" These bases have controlled the Kaladan River Project. The AA has already captured these bases, so it has been able to control the project. In order to implement India's eastern leaning policy, the two bases are important. Now that the AA has captured the bases, the military council has nothing to carry out the projects with India." he said.
However, because the Tatmadaw will launch a counter offensive to recapture the bases, it will be difficult for the AA to control the bases for long, said military analysts.
While seein Tron I Village along the Kaladan River
" The military bases that the AA has captured are the places that can control the border areas with India and Bangladesh including Kaladan and Paletwa. In other words, the bases have controlled all the roads going to northern India. But later, negotiation might be needed for the AA. If the Three Brotherhood Alliance negotiation with the Tatmadaw in northern Shan State was convenient for the AA and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a bilateral agreement relating Paletwa region containing border areas with India and Bangladesh might arise." said Dr.Aye Maung.
The battles between the Tatmadaw and the AA resumed on 13th November. And then the battles spread to Paletwa Township, Chin State.
At present, the battles are breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the AA in Sittwe, Kyauk Phyu, Ranbye, Myebon, Taung Goat, Thandwe, Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Pauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk U, Ponnagyun Townships in Rakhine State as well as in Paletwa Township, Chin State.
