Border fence construction remains suspended

Published on Thursday, 15 November 2012 22:37

The construction of a 70-kilometre border fence in Rakhine and Chin states remains suspended since November 7 due to gunfights on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border which left a soldier killed and three others injured.

The first gunfight between an unidentified armed group and members of Myanmar Border Security Force (BSF) took place on November 6 when the soldiers from Myanmar army’s General Engineering Unit, who were working with the border fence construction group, came under attack near the mile posts between 51 and 52 in the afternoon, said a security official who asked not to be named.

More BSF troops were are deployed in the area but the missing soldiers could not be rescued till today.

On November 11 night at the same area, another gunfight occurred when Myanmar security troops started firing at what was assumed to be an armed group. The armed men, who were carrying flashlights, fired thrice before fleeing the area, said the security officer.

No casualty was reported this time.

Security was tightened on the border area after the November 6 gunfight. Evacuation of the fence construction group began the next day.

The 70-kilometre border fence stretches from the mouth of the Naf River in Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, to a point in between Butheedaung Township and Palatwa Township, Chin State.

“We saw the fence builders returning from the border area. Our village, however, is clam. We have security guards,” a local resident from Tamann Village said.

Talking to the Eleven Media Group today, Zaw Htay, director of the President's Office, said Myanmar officials assumed that an armed group named the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) was behind the attack and that the group came from Bangladesh.
It, however, could not be confirmed yet, he added.