Ngapali hotel zone assets reportedly moved and sold by AA officials, close contacts
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Phyo/Thet Paing (NP News) - June 24
According to local residents, AA officials and individuals close to them are transporting and selling items taken from the Ngapali hotel zone in Thandwe Township, Rakhine State, which is under the control of the Arakan Army (AA).
Locals also revealed that valuable items are being transported by boat and sold in Kyauktaw, Kan Htaung Gyi, Myebon, and other towns.
A source who requested anonymity said, “People can’t even enter Jatetaw Ward. Only the AA and those close to them are allowed access. At first, motorcycles were taken and sold in the northern area. Later, when the motorcycles ran out, furniture from hotels began to be taken and sold, according to eyewitnesses. Sometimes, fishermen notice that items are being loaded onto boats.”
It is known that although fishing is prohibited in Thandwe Township due to security concerns, the AA allows individuals close to them to do fishing by boat, while local residents secretly continue fishing activities.
"Sometimes, items belonging to hotel can be found on boats arriving at the marina from Thandwe. It's hard to determine the exact number, as no thorough counting has been done. But such items often show up at the marina," said a Kyauktaw resident.
Rakhine politics watcher also stated that after AA seized Thandwe and Ngapali towns, the current situation unfolded just as expected within a few months. At present, hotels in Ngapali are largely empty.
“We learned from locals that they were taking things from empty houses at first. When there was nothing left to take, they started moving things from hotels in Ngapali. We also know that the AA, which is responsible for that area, is involved in this. Currently, there are some people from the AA living in the hotels. We know that they have almost nothing left except for the dishes they used to cook and eat,” he said.
AA began attacking security posts in Thandwe Township on April 13, 2024, and after four months of fighting, gained control of the area by the end of August.