Hanoi(VNA) - Myanmar's government has rejected a proposed ceasefire by militants inthe country's Rakhine state, saying they don't "negotiate withterrorists."
The US’s news network CNN reported that themilitants, known as Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, or ARSA, issued astatement, saying “offensive military operations" would be paused untilOctober 9 to give access to aid groups.
The statement called on the Myanmar government todo the same to address the "humanitarian crisis" unfolding in thestate.
The statement was issued while Myanmar securityforces were advancing to villages in Rakhine state to fight ARSA militants.
According to the Myanmar Government, 97terrorist attacks by ARSA from August 25 to September 4 killed 36 people. Atotal of 59 villages and over 6,840 houses were burnt down while eight bridgeswere destroyed by the extremist terrorists. Meanwhile, 371 terrorists were alsokilled by the security forces.
Conflicts lasting for years in Rakhine broke outagain in late August after insurgents attacked many police posts and a militaryoutpost, forcing the Myanmar army to launch operations against the insurgents.
Armed conflicts have made about 313,000 Rohingyapeople flee from Rakhine to Bangladesh.-VNA