Thousands flee homes fearing military ‘clearance’ against Rakhine rebels

The exodus from more than 40 villages is continuing almost a week after a now-revoked evacuation order that instructed residents to leave

The government has been embroiled for more than a year in an intermittent conflict with the Arakan Army, a well-trained and well-armed guerilla force

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Residents, who fled from a feared conflict between the Myanmar army and the Arakan Army arrive at a temporary refugee camp at a monastery in Sittwe, Rakhine State. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:25pm, 30 Jun 2020Updated: 7:47pm, 30 Jun 2020

Thousands of people in an area of western Myanmar where there have been clashes between the government and ethnic rebels have been fleeing from their villages over the past week after an evacuation order from officials.

The Rakhine state government in an order last Tuesday instructed village administrators in Rathedaung township to tell residents to stay away from their homes because of military plans to conduct a “clearance operation” against the rebels. “Clearance operation” is Myanmar military parlance for counter-insurgency action.

The exodus from more than 40 villages is continuing almost a week later, even though the order was revoked last Friday by Rakhine state’s security and border affairs minister.

“Since the day the order was issued, more than 10,000 people from the operation area fled their villages,” Khin Maung Latt, an upper house member of parliament for Rathedaung township, said on Monday.

Ethnic Rakhine villagers arrive at a temporary monastery camp with their belongings in Sittwe, Rakhine State. Photo: AP

The government has been embroiled for more than a year in an intermittent conflict with the Arakan Army, a well-trained and well-armed guerilla force representing members of the area’s Rakhine ethnic group.

The guerilla force is posing the strongest military challenge to the central government of the many ethnic minority groups who for decades have sought greater autonomy.