YANGON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Restoration process is underway after four police outposts were raided by the Arakan Army (AA) on Friday morning in Buthidaung, Myanmar's Rakhine state, an official from Myanmar Military told Xinhua.
"The four police outposts were just to provide security for local ethnic villages and they were not well-defended as the border police stations," he said.
The AA armed group launched attacks on the four police outposts in ethnic Arakan villages of Nga Myin Baw, Kyaung Taung, Ka Htee Hla and Goke Pi in Buthidaung township at 06:45 a.m. local time on Friday.
With the use of two helicopters, the military returned fire and took control of the situation before 10:00 a.m. on Friday, according to the official.
A total of 13 police personnel were killed and nine others were injured in the attack with small arms and bullets reported missing from the outposts, according to the Information Ministry.
On Dec. 12 last year, the non-ceasefire signatory Northern Alliance Ethnic Forces, comprising three ethnic armed groups -- Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA) released a joint statement, expressing their desire to settle military dispute and political matters through dialogue.
In response of the joint-statement, Myanmar military also announced suspension of all its military action against armed groups in operation areas in five military command regions for over four months starting from Dec. 21, 2018 to April 30, 2019.
During the military's non-operation period, ethnic armed groups in respective operation areas are to negotiate for ceasefire and peace with the National Reconciliation and Peace Center, said an announcement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services.
