High-ranking officers from the Myanmar junta reportedly attempted to plot an assassination against Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Abhay Thakur and his delegation during their visit to Sittwe, according to confessions from some military officials.
According to some high-ranking officials from the Myanmar junta, there was an attempt to assassinate Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur and his delegation during their visit to the Kaladan project at the Sittwe port. The junta reportedly planned to use heavy artillery in the attack.
Some high-ranking officials from the Myanmar junta revealed that if the planned heavy artillery attack on Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur and his delegation had succeeded, the junta intended to falsely accuse the Arakan Army (AA) of being responsible for the assassination. This was reportedly part of a premeditated strategy.
A junta military official from the Regional Administrative Headquarters in Sittwe told Border News Agency that, “Orders were given to continuously fire heavy artillery around Sittwe starting from the second week of January. From January 15 to January 17, they specifically targeted Sittwe port. Later, they planned to frame the Arakan Army (AA) by claiming that the Indian Ambassador was attacked by the AA, and instructions were premeditated for this plot.”
According to members of the Myanmar junta, heavy artillery fired by the military exploded near the Sittwe port during the visit of Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur and his delegation to the Kaladan project site along the Kaladan River in Sittwe.
The heavy artillery fire reportedly originated from the Regional Operations Command in Sittwe and was carried out under the orders of Western Command Commander Major General Kyaw Swar Oo, according to some military council officials.
The Indian Embassy in Myanmar announced that Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur, along with Mr. Shri Sanjeev Mukhundhan, Managing Director of India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL), and officials from the Indian Consulate, visited the Kaladan project port in Sittwe from January 16 to 17. The visit aimed to review the operations of the Kaladan project.
Some military officials from the Myanmar junta have speculated that the visit was a covert trip, only known to State Chief Minister U Htein Lin and Western Command Commander Major General Kyaw Swar Oo. They also suggested that it could have been part of an order issued by the coup leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, at the state level, underlining the secretive nature of the mission.
A senior officer from the Regional Operations Command in Sittwe told Border News Agency, “I believe even the regional commander was unaware. Orders to attack the AA and fire heavy artillery had already been given before those dates. No one knew about their itinerary until the Indian Embassy made an official announcement. It seems like it was part of a top-secret directive from the highest authority.”
The Arakan Army (AA) announced on December 29 that it is always ready to resolve internal issues through political means rather than military force. They also emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of foreign relations, projects, and personnel, focusing on protecting and safeguarding these interests.
Observers monitoring Rakhine affairs have stated that any attempt by the Myanmar junta to orchestrate an assassination of a high-ranking diplomat from a foreign nation would be a total failure. They believe such an act would be a malicious move on the international stage, and if successful, the Arakan Army could be labeled a terrorist group globally, tarnishing its reputation.
A Rakhine affairs observer told Border News Agency, “If the heavy artillery had killed the Indian Ambassador during his visit, the Myanmar junta would certainly have blamed the Arakan Army (AA) for the attack. This would have been an attempt to portray the AA as a terrorist group on the international stage. Such malicious actions are aimed at undermining all the military and political achievements of the AA, and it’s a state-level conspiracy.”
Some military officials from the Myanmar junta have claimed that, in preparation for the assassination attempt during the Indian Ambassador’s visit, the junta had already stationed fighter jets, naval vessels, and heavy artillery. They alleged that the Arakan Army (AA) had initiated attacks, and the junta’s military responded in self-defense, with the false information being part of a premeditated plan to frame the AA for the incident.
Residents of Sittwe have reported that during the visit of the Indian Ambassador and his delegation, the Myanmar junta deliberately fired heavy artillery towards the Indian port and also carried out airstrikes, naval gunfire, and artillery attacks in surrounding areas such as Rathetaung, Ponnakyun, and Pauktaw townships. These actions were reportedly intended to escalate tensions in the region.
Observers monitoring Rakhine affairs have pointed out that the Myanmar military junta, fearing an impending attack and takeover of Sittwe by the Arakan Army, is seeking to shield itself behind Indian projects. They are also working under pressure from the Indian government to prevent the city from falling into the hands of the Arakan Army.
Experts closely following Rakhine affairs have highlighted that the Myanmar military junta, in an effort to undermine the military and political successes of the Arakan Army, is seeking to push Rakhine and its people into greater conflict and instability. This includes leveraging support through the Chinese government, as well as diplomatic pressure on India and Bangladesh, with the goal of exerting further pressure on the Arakan Army.
