Arakan News Agency
9 police dead after attackers storm 3 stations around Rakhine in areas predominantly occupied by Rohingya Muslim population
Authorities have imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in areas close to Myanmar’s border with Bangladesh after armed men raided police station outposts, officials said Sunday.
At least nine policemen and eight militants died after attackers armed with rifles, knives and explosives stormed three Border Guard Police Force stations in western Rakhine State’s Maungdaw and Yathay Taung Townships at around 3.a.m (2130GMT Saturday).
The curfew (7 p.m. to 6 a.m.) was imposed in areas where a partial curfew (11 p.m. to 4 a.m.) already existed following the communal violence that broke out in the area mid-2012 between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims.
Late Sunday, Information Minister Phay Myint told a press conference in political capital Nay Pyi Taw that the situation had been brought under control by the evening.
“One police officer remains missing,” he said.
The government has said that police are holding two militants captured alive, while 51 weapons were stolen from police station arsenals during the raids.
Police Chief Zaw Win told the press conference that they are yet to confirm which group is responsible for the attacks.
“We are still questioning the two armed men we caught alive,” he added.
“A sergeant was killed by a gun shot, and two [officers] have been taken to hospital,” said the officer, who asked not to be named as he did not have authority to speak to media.
“The attackers took weapons from our armory,” he added, saying the attack — which appeared “well planned” — lasted for around 90 minutes.
It is still unclear how many were killed or injured in the other attacks, and no group has claimed responsibility.
Since the Advisory Commission was established by Aung Sung Suu Kyi, which is chaired by former Secretary General of United Nations Mr. Kofi Annan, Buddhist extremists and hardliners had shown anger and disappointment through protests and dis-satisfactions with Suu Kyi led government.
International Observers says it is a Military Junta led conspiracy to destabilize – civilian government and also inciting unrest within communities.
