CNI News

12 Sept 2022

As the common enemy of the United League of Arakan/ Arakan Arny and the Chin Land Defence Force is the Tatmadaw, there will be no problems between them, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

Tensions were reportedly running high between the AA and the CDF in Than Htaung Village in Paletwa Township in Chin State at the end of August.

  Paletwa town.

U Pe Than told the CNI, “The AA had to take the foothold in Paletwa first because the area was very important for them as it was linked to areas they wanted to control in Rakhine State. Otherwise, the military might launch offensives against them from there. Paletwa is located at the Kaladan river, which flows through and depends everything including the economic and social affairs and food on Rakhine State. I think the AA wants to use the area temporarily. As they are fighting against the common enemy, they should understand each other’s position. The People’s Defence Forces are elsewhere in the entire country including Kachin and Karen states fighting the common enemy along with ethnic armed organizations. I think there should be no problem between them.”

The CNI contacted the Chin Joint Defence Committee for comments but the committee said the dispute broke out between the AA and the Chinland Defense Force. The CNI was not able to contact the CDF.

  People travelling on the Kaladan River.

U Pe Than told the CNI, “Organizations may have different positions on some issues but they should accept each other’s positions while fighting against the common enemy. If they have issues to be settled, they should resolve the issues after they have overthrown the junta and a federal union is established. They should understand each other’s positions while fighting against the common enemy.”

Before the 2020 general election, fighting between the AA and the Tatmadaw in Paletwa displaced local residents.

Paletwa has a population of more than 100,000 and most of them are members of Chin ethnic group but Bamar and Rakhine people reside there too.

The AA is active in Paletwa and has camps. The Arakan Liberation Party was active near the town but later the area was taken by the AA.