Terrorist group exposed as being responsible for border post attacks in Myanmar western state: gov't

An organization "Aqa Mul Mujahidin" which is related with terrorist organization, "Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO)" operating in Maungtaw, Myanmar's western Rakhine state, has been exposed as being responsible for Oct. 9 violent attacks on three border posts in Maungtaw.

In the attacks, nine policemen were killed, eight bodies of attackers claimed and two captured alive with many weapons seized, said a press release of the President's Office on Friday evening.

The release came shortly after a special meeting was held at the Presidential Palace on the country's current situation of national defense and security, attended by President U Htin Kyaw, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and other government ministers concerned.

Initial investigation carried out on the two captured terrorists and two others handed over by the Bangladesh authorities showed the terrorist attacks occurring in Maungtaw were supported financially by foreign terrorist organizations and the attacks were systematically pre-plotted taking time, the release said.

It was revealed that the terrorist attacks involved some extremists of the Islamic people residing in Maungtaw as a majority of the population, it said, adding that the armed assaults aimed at occupying Maungtaw and Buthee Taung with the financial support of extremists from some Middle East countries through individual links.

Currently, the Aqa Mul Mujahidin, with nearly 400 member terrorists, is attempting to continue terrorist attacks in Maungtaw and were frequently engaged in fighting with the government troops launching area clearing operation, it also said, warning to effectively defend the local people and wipe out the terrorists under the constitution, anti-terrorism law and other security- and defense- related laws.

As disclosed by the authorities, five soldiers from the government troops have so far been killed in the engagements.

A series of fightings between the government troops and hundreds of armed men were still going on in Maungtaw township over the last several days, in which both sides suffered casualties.

The three border posts are Kyikanpyi in Maungtaw , Kotankauk in Rathedaung and Ngakhuya Office.

Maungtaw township has been placed under curfew order beginning last Sunday due to the armed men's violent attacks. Endit