Myanmar calls in military to ‘crush’ rebels in Rakhine

YANGON, January 7 

Myanmar government leader Aung San Suu Kyi discussed insurgent attacks on the Myanmar police on Monday at a rare meeting with the military chief, and her administration called for the armed forces to “crush” the rebels, a government spokesman said.

Fighting between government forces and the rebel Arakan Army in the western state of Rakhine has displaced thousands of people since early December, according to the United Nations.

The Arakan Army wants greater autonomy for Rakhine, where the mainly Buddhist Rakhine ethnic group makes up the majority of the population. Rakhine State saw a military-led crackdown in 2017, following attacks by Rohingya Muslim insurgents that prompted hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee westwards into neighbouring Bangladesh.

Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay said Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other cabinet members met military leaders, including army chief Min Aung Hlaing, and the military intelligence chief, to discuss “foreign affairs and national security”.

“The president’s office has instructed the military to launch an operation to crush the terrorists,” Zaw Htaysaid.

The insurgents killed 13 policemen and wounded nine in attacks on four police posts on Friday, as Myanmar celebrated Independence Day. — Reuters