THOUSANDS of insurgents made up of personnel from the Arakanese Army (AA), Chin PDF, Magway PDF, and MNDA rebels attacked a military base in Kyauktaw, north of Sittway in Rakhine State. Due to the mismatch in manpower, Tatmadaw personnel and their families decided to abandon the camp and leave with two landing crafts (LCU) on the evening of 7 February.

The insurgents started attacking the vessels as soon as they realized the garrison was being shifted out. Along the 50-mileplus waterway from Kyauktaw to Sittway, the capital of Rakhine State, there were no other supporting ground infantry or Navy boats. The Air Force arrived on time, with aircraft and helicopters providing defensive cover to the two vessels and their passengers.

Along the Kaladan River, the enemies continued their attacks using superior firepower, including drone bombs, RPGs, machine guns and sniper fire, from both sides of the channel. One of the LCUs was damaged, taken out of action and ran aground because of incessant attacks in the early afternoon of 8 February. The personnel and families on the damaged LCU were forced to abandon the ship and move on to the remaining craft.

Further attacks on the remaining vessel and sabotages on an incoming auxiliary LCU meant that these vessels also ran aground further down the river before reaching the safety of the incoming Navy gunboats.

The military personnel bravely defended themselves while screaming at the top of their lungs that many women and children were trying to leave the grounded boat. With more than 50 drop bombs falling on them, they had no choice but to run ashore, hoping the insurgents would be somewhat humane towards unarmed and innocent women and children. Perhaps hopelessness is the very soil that nourishes human hope. The terrorists did not spare women and children begging for their lives.

Tears of sadness flow from the river to the sea. Grief was only worsened by lack of compassion, commiseration, condolence, consolation, concern, comfort or care by the West or ASEAN, a stark contrast if you could recall the response at the sentencing of a known terrorist leader and murderer, Phyo Zeya Thaw!

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