CNI News
20 Sept 2022
The United League of Arakan/AA might have said that it was endeavouring to establish an Arakha government to boost the morale of its people, Col Khun Okkar, an EAO leader, told the CNI.
He said he did not want to make any remarks on the comment but explained that the leader of the AA once said they were fighting for the confederation status.
Col Khun Okkar told the CNI, “It was the comment they made and I don’t want to make any remarks on that. They once officially said they were fighting for confederation status. They might have changed tone to achieve higher status than confederation, I am not sure. However, they might have tried to boost the morale of their people during the military escalation. It is difficult to make remarks on the comment.”
ULA/AA Spokesperson Khaing Thu Kha said they empathized with Bengali refugees, who were forced to flee to Bangladesh en masse and urged the government of Bangladesh, the UN and world powers to stand together with the AA by offering full support to solve the problems.
AA Spokesperson U Khaing Thukha at the press briefing on 19th September, 2022.
He said that the ULA/AA was endeavouring to establish an Arakha government at a press briefing on 19th September.
Col Khun Okkar said, “That is not new. When an ethnic group or an organization has some strength, they tend to aim higher. About 30 years ago, the Karenni National Progressive Party and the Karen National Union used to chant such slogans. Then, chairman druglord Khun Sa even talked about the independence of Shan State. Taking a glimpse at the history, one can see that some organizations and ethnic groups used to make such comments. Nowadays, some organizations are taking the same trend again.``
In 2019, AA Commander-in-Chief Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing said that they aimd to achieve the self-administration status similar to that Wa Self-Administered Region in Shan State.
Currently, the ULA/AA is enjoying a widespread support of the people and fighting has broken out between the AA and the Tatmadaw.
