• UGI USER
  • Jul 09, 2024
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“MYANMAR’S ARAKAN ARMY CAPTURES THANDWE AIRPORT IN MAJOR SETBACK”

Why in the news?

  • Myanmar’s ethnic rebels, the Arakan Army, captured Thandwe Airport, marking a significant setback for the Myanmar junta.
  • This is the first time resistance forces have seized an airport, impacting a key beach resort area.

About Arakan Army (AA):

  • Ethnic armed organisation in Rakhine State, Myanmar.
  • Founding Date: 10 April 2009.
  • Military Wing: United League of Arakan (ULA).
  • Leadership: Major General Twan Mrat Naing (Commander-in-Chief),
  • Objective: Restore sovereignty of Arakan people.
  • Headquarters: Laiza, Kachin State (current);
  • Ideology: Arakanese nationalism, self-determination, confederalism.
source:worldatlas
About Thandwe Airport:

  • Also known as Ma Zin Airport.
  • Strategic Location: Thandwe Airport’s location in Rakhine State makes it strategically significant.
  • Its proximity to Ngapali Beach, a popular tourist destination, adds to its importance.
  • Historical Context: Thandwe Airport has witnessed accidents in the past, including a 1972 crash and a 2012 runway overrun incident.
  • Symbolic Victory: The Arakan Army’s capture of Thandwe Airport represents a symbolic victory against Myanmar’s military junta. It’s the first time resistance forces have taken control of such a facility.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/myanmar-junta-orders-mass-evacuations-around-sittwe-amid-rebel-threats/