Myanmar insurgents reports several members of junta forces, surrendered and captured
A rebel group reported on Wednesday that dozens of Myanmar security forces have either surrendered or been captured, signaling an intensified offensive by insurgent groups against the junta in various regions of the country.
The Arakan Army (AA), fighting for autonomy in Rakhine State, western Myanmar, claimed that at least 28 policemen surrendered and handed over their weapons, while 10 soldiers were apprehended. However, in a report from Reuters, the said media outlet could not independently verify this information. The AA is one of three ethnic minority insurgent groups that launched a coordinated offensive against junta forces in late October.
A curfew has been implemented in the Rakhine State capital, Sittwe, where military tanks have been observed, according to the local administration. The rebels have seized control of several towns and military posts, including those near the Chinese border, posing a significant challenge to the junta since the 2021 coup.
Zaw Min Tun, a junta spokesperson, accused the rebel groups of causing widespread destruction and labeled reports of captured military posts as "propaganda." He acknowledged ongoing fighting in Shan, Rakhine, and Kayah states but did not comment on reports of junta forces surrendering.
In Chin State in the northwest, where rebel attacks occurred, 43 Myanmar soldiers reportedly crossed into the Indian state of Mizoram. Indian forces transported most of the soldiers to another border point, where they were handed back to Myanmar authorities, according to an unidentified Indian security official.
Last week, Myanmar's military-appointed president expressed concern about the country potentially breaking apart due to the inadequate response to the rebellion. The military has long asserted that it is the only institution capable of holding Myanmar together, advocating for a democratic, federal system is met with opposition from critics of military rule.
