Following are statements of two AA insurgents who set fire to Manawthiri Village, Pauktaw Township, Rakhine State, at the behest of AA insurgents.
My name is Tun Kyaw Lin. I am from Manawthiri Village, Pauktaw Township. About two weeks ago, there was a battle in Pauktaw. After the battle, there were AA members in and out of our village. The villagers fled because they were afraid of armed conflicts possible in the village. Oo Oo Ba Tun and I were told by AA to wait to report when the army arrived.
The AA army said there are about ten people in Phayagon, east of the village. They said there was also a mine in the upper part of the village. If Tatmadaw came, we were forced to burn the village and run away, as if Tatmadaw would burn the village. In Pauktaw, they also asked the villagers to burn the village and told them that Tatmadaw had burned them.
When Tatmadaw came, we were burning the village as AA ordered. When we were burning the village, Tatmadaw saw us, and both of us were arrested.
I am Oo Ba Htun from Manawthiri Village. There was a battle between AA and Tatmadaw two weeks ago. AA arrived at the Manawthiri Village, and the villagers ran away from the village. If Tatmadaw came, we were forced to burn the village and run away, as if Tatmadaw would burn the village. In Pauktaw, they also asked the villagers to burn the village and told them that Tatmadaw had burned them.
When Tatmadaw came, we were burning the village as AA ordered. When we were burning the village, Tatmadaw saw us, and both of us were arrested. — MNA/ KZL
