Arakan Army claims capture of Tatmadaw captain in fighting

30 March 2015
Arakan Army claims capture of Tatmadaw captain in fighting
The Arakan Army claims to have captured a Tatmadaw captain in armed clashes in Rakhine State on March 29, 2015. Arakan Army soldiers. Photo: Arakan Army/Facebook

Two armed clashes between units of the Arakan Army and government troops in Rakhine State on March 29 saw the capture of a government army captain in the fighting, Dr Nyo Tun Aung, deputy chief of staff of the Arakan Army, told Mizzima on March 29.
Dr Nyo Tun Aung said the clashes broke out at just after midnight and at 7:30 am on March 29.
The Arakan Army claims this was the first armed conflict between the Tatmadaw and their forces in 50 years.
“Armed combat broke out because they were unavoidable. We have been active in the area for a long time. Only now have we been confronted with government troops. The government troops have now withdrawn,” he said.
The clashes took place between the west of Palattwa and the north of Kyauktaw. The first clash lasted about 30 minutes. The second bout of fighting ran from 7:30 am until noon.
The Arakan Army claims it captured a Tatmadaw captain and seized weapons, including rifles.
A Tatmadaw Lieutenant Colonel in Nay Pyi Taw told Mizzima he was unable to confirm the fighting or the alleged capture of the Tatmadaw captain.