Local residents report that the Arakan Army (AA)’s offensive has reached near Laymyethna town in Ayeyarwady Region. The military council forces are preparing defensive positions at Shwe Thit Su village near the Ngawun Bridge approach and are forcing villagers to cook meals and deliver them to the troops. Since early March, intense fighting between the AA and military forces has escalated in Laymyethna Township. Currently, AA’s offensive operations have advanced to the outskirts of Laymyethna town. The military council is not only fortifying positions at Shwe Thit Su village near the Ngawun Bridge approach but also preparing to establish a presence at the historic Htu Par Yone Pagoda on the western bank of the Ngawun River. Due to military movements, residents from villages near the Htu Par Yone Pagoda have been forced to flee to safer locations.
Starting from March 23, the armed village administrator Zaw Naing of Shwe Thit Su village has been forcing villagers to cook meals for the soldiers on a rotation basis. Local sources indicate that villagers are required to prepare food for approximately 100 soldiers daily, and weapons and ammunition are reportedly stored at village administrator Zaw Naing’s house. A local resident stated that the sound of heavy artillery fire has been growing louder each day, indicating that AA’s offensive forces are moving closer to the town. The military council has suffered significant casualties in the ongoing battles in Laymyethna Township and has primarily relied on airstrikes and artillery bombardment in their operations.
The situation has created significant hardship for local civilians who are caught between the fighting forces. They face both the dangers of ongoing military conflict and the burden of forced labor imposed by the military council through their local administrators. The military’s presence has disrupted normal life in the area, with many residents living in fear of both the fighting and the military’s demands. The intensification of artillery fire and the advancing AA forces have added to the atmosphere of tension and uncertainty in the region. Local residents continue to face challenges as they are compelled to provide support to military forces while also trying to ensure their own safety amidst the escalating conflict.
The military council’s reliance on airstrikes and artillery fire rather than ground operations indicates their defensive posture and the effectiveness of the AA’s offensive. The forced conscription of villagers to provide support services, including cooking and delivering food to troops, demonstrates the military council’s continued practice of exploiting civilian populations. This situation has created additional hardships for local communities who are already struggling with the impacts of ongoing conflict in the region. The presence of weapons and ammunition in the village administrator’s house also highlights the militarization of civilian administration structures under the military council’s control.
