Over 30 revolutionary forces send congratulatory messages to AA on 17th anniversary

Narinjara News, 11 April 2026

Over 30 revolutionary forces have sent congratulatory messages on the 17th anniversary of Arakan Army (AA) that falls on 10 April.

The organizations, who sent messages include fraternal alliance members of the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA) and the Myanmar Truth and Justice National Party/Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNTJP/MNDAA), along with the Burma People’s Liberation Army (BPLA), the People’s Defense Army - Mandalay (special operations division) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The PLA message said, "We wish the Arakha Army (AA) to eradicate the military dictatorship and realize the Arakan dream as soon as possible. The PLA also hopes to join hands with the AA as good allies in the struggle for the eradication of the military dictatorship and the liberation of all oppressed peoples belonging to various ethnic groups."

A joint statement from the AA’s two sister groups (MNDAA and TNLA) said, “Currently, the AA has withstood the onslaught of the revolution and has taken control of almost all townships in order to provide better governance and a secure social life for the entire people of Rakhine State. This is the result of the unwavering efforts, sacrifices and unity of the AA and the Rakhine people, along with the firm aspiration that ‘unity is strength’, and is a model for all ethnic groups in Myanmar.”

Similarly, the message sent by the Student Front/Student Arms Army (SF/SAF) reads, "As the Arakha Path has been successfully implemented, its long revolutionary journey has now completed 17 years.”

During these years, the Arakha Path has led from the front and the entire Arakha people have made a lot of sacrifices to overcome the ups & downs of the revolutionary world, and we greatly appreciate it, the message added.

"We believe that the Arakha Path-centered process will be successfully implemented, and through this, the entire people will be able to build a free & just Arakh land," it concluded.

The YDF said in a statement, “We are grateful to the AA for their guidance and support in establishing the YDF national path and for their support in establishing a strong, disciplined, and united army, including the YDF National Covenant.”

96 Soldiers - PDF said in a statement, “We respect and honor the AA martyrs, soldiers, and all the Arakan people who have been tirelessly striving for national liberation. We are also grateful to the AA for training, providing assistance, and allowing our troops to fight together in the current battles. We believe that the AA will be able to fulfill the Arakan dream that the people of Arakan are expecting.”

The People’s Liberation Front (PLF) message said, “We are grateful for the guidance, assistance, and support it has provided to the PLF during the Spring Revolution.”

The PLF also modeled the political and military strategies of the AA in eradicating the three-party system, liberating all ethnic groups, and building a federal union, and pledged to continue fighting relentlessly until the war is won, just like its ally, the AA.

Mentionable is that the AA was formed on 10 April 2009 under the leadership of Maj Gen Twan Mrat Naing and Brig Gen Dr Nyo Htun Aung along with 26 patriotic Rakhine youth at Laiza, which was controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Liberation Army (KIO/KIA).

Currently, 14 Rakhine townships and Paletwa locality have been captured by the AA fighters. Only three townships namely Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung remain under the control of military junta at this moment.