Hill Voice, 22 March 2022, Bandarban: At least three terrorists of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and the Mog Party were reportedly killed on the spot in a gunfight with the opposition in Jamchhari Union of Bandarban Sadar Upazila under Bandarban Hill District bordering Rajsthali Upazila of Rangamati Hill District today.

It is learnt that the incident took place at around 9:00 am on March 22, 2022 in Thankhrui Para area of No. 330 Hnara Mouza under Jamchhari Union. Two ALP members and a Mog Party member were reported killed in the incident.

One of the deceased persons was identified as Aungthowai Marma, 45, son of Thuikhoino Marma. His home is said to be in Thankhrui Para of Hnara Mouza. On the other hand, the names of the dead ALP members were not known.

According to local sources, the ALP is a rebel group based in Arakan, Myanmar. Some time ago, a faction of this group was stationed in Bandarban and Rajasthali under the umbrella and patronage of the Bangladesh army and the local Awami League. At the tip of the administration’s nose, they carried out terrorist activities including extortion, kidnapping of villagers and extortion.

Later, towards the end of 2020, most of the ALP members left the CHT but a group remained in the Rajasthali area. That group of the ALP eventually became known as the Marma Liberation Party or the Mog Party. The Mog Party has recently established a reign of terror including killing, kidnapping and extortion against the local innocent people including the leaders and activists of Jana Samhati Samiti in different areas of Rajasthali and Bandarban with the help and patronage of the army and local Awami League.

Allegedly, since the ALP is known as a foreign outfit, it was on the advice of the army that the Marma Liberation Party, or Mog Party, was formed with the remaining ALP members and a few other local youths.

Local sources further said that recently, under the direction of the army, members of the Mog Party have reestablished links with other ALP groups in order to intensify their terrorist activities. It is believed that old ALP members are being brought to the CHT in exchange for a hefty financial reward in collaboration with the army and the local Awami League. It is believed that the ALP members were being brought to the Mog Party base area in Rajasthali to provide necessary training to the Mog Party members.

According to another source, in the second week of March, nine ALP members, led by ALP Commander Major Sathowain, marched from Myarmar-India-Bangladesh border to Ruma Upazila in Bandarban with 18 weapons. They were seen with arms on March 14, 2022 in Mendaui (Mro Para) of Bogalake in Ruma. Later they were also seen in Adiram Para near Ruma canal. An armed group of ALP members was last seen in the morning of March 17, 2022 in Ruma upazila of Bandarban.

As far as is known, Sathowain was the junior of Khailang, the current head of the Mog Party. At that time Sathowain used to stay in in the Pantala and Naitang areas of Ruma. The 18 weapons are believed to have been bought by the Mog Party terrorists with money paid by the army and Bandarban District Council chairman and Bandarban District Awami League President Kwashwehla Marma, along with extortion and ransom money.

Mogs and ALPs met on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Ruma’s Mualpi Para. Mog party terrorists were waiting in Mualpi Para and ALP terrorists came from Moudang Mro Para and gathered in Mualpi Para.

On the other hand, on March 17, 2022, a group of 20-25 people of the Mog Party went to Ruma with about ten motorcycles. According to the source, the Mugh party members went there to bring ALP members to Rajasthali.

A source said that the ALP members were found armed in the Balaghata area of Bandarban Sadar around 6:45 am just a few hours before the shooting today (March 22).

It is learnt that this morning members of ALP and Mog Party were going together from Minjhiri Para of Balaghata in Bandarban Sadar towards Poyaitu Para of Rajasthali. Poyaitu Para is the main base area of the Mog Party. Members of the ALP and the Mog Party first drove some distance. Then they were walking. At that time, when they reached the Thangkhrui Para area of Jamchhari Union in Bandarban, an unidentified opposition party opened fire on the members of ALP and Mog Party, resulting in a gunfight between the two sides. It is learnt that three terrorists of ALP and Mog Party were killed on the spot.

It is notable that according to reliable sources, the army have recently held several conspiratorial secret meetings with the concerned quarters in the Bandarban Hill District to discuss how the Mog Party could be used for more destructive terrorist activities. Apart from army, intelligence and BGB officials, the meeting was attended by representatives of District Awami League, Mog Party, UPDF (Democratic), settler organization Parbatya Chattagram Nagorik Committee (CHT Citizens Council) and some army obedient public representatives, headmen and individuals.

The meeting discussed to take measures to ensure that the leaders and activists of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), who are active and vocal for implementation of the CHT Accord, could not move or carry out any activities in and around Bandarban Sadar. Apart from the armed terrorist activities of the Mog Party, it was also decided that the army would conduct military operations around the area.

In the last two months alone (January-February 2022), there have been reports of murders of 3 persons, abduction of 15 people and collection of ransom from abductees, threats and beatings to 4 people, attempted murder of 1 person and search of 4 houses by these terrorist groups.

The last time, an innocent villager named Unuemong Marma was killed in Taracha Union of Rowangchari Upazila was shot dead by Mog Party terrorists on March 5, 2022 at around 11:00 AM.

However, at around 2:00 pm on the same day, at least 4 to 6 armed members of the Mog Party were reportedly killed in a gun attack of opponent group at Phalangkshyong on the banks of Sangu river on the Rowangchari-Ruma border.