(Based on staff posts from the Myanmar Now Media on 23 January 2025.)
On January 22, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and
Development Office (FCDO) of British Foreigne Affairs Ministry issued a travel
warning to UK citizens not to travel to the townships of Kyan-gin, Myan-aung,
Ingapu, Lay-myack-nhar, Yay-gyi, Thar-baung, and Bassein in the Irrawaddy
Division of Myanmar.
FCDO now advises against all but essential travel
to the townships of Kyangin, Myanaung, Ingapu, Lemyethna, Yegyi, Thabaung and
Pathein in Ayeyarwady region which lie along the border with Rakhine State.
FCDO announced the travel warning after the severe fightings broke out between Myanmar Army and Arakan Army (AA) in the coastal areas of Irrawaddy Division next to the Rakhine state. AA already has basically wiped-out Myanmar Army in the Arakan State and now rapidly advancing together with allied Burmese PDF troops into the Irrawaddy Division.
Locals said that Myanmar Army and AA had a fierce
battle on January 16th in the Bawmi village on the south-west coast of Pathein
township right down from the Gwa township of Rakhine state. Locals and Resistant
Forces there claimed that the Bawmi village with almost 400 houses were
destroyed due to the massive aerial bombing by Myanmar Air Force planes on
January 17th.
Baumi village is only about 16 miles away from Shwe-Thaung-Yan
beach, 27 miles away from the Chaung-Thar beach, and 38 miles away from the Ngwe-Saung
Resort Town. The troops of AA and allied PDF do not even need to walk there as sealed
roads are available for their trucks.
FCDO has already issued travel warning for UK
citizens not to go to the Chin, Kachin, Karenni, Karen, Mon, Rakhine and Shan
States. Sagaing, Magway, Tanintharyi Region, Mandalay City, Pyin Oo Lwin City,
Yangon-Mandalay Highway were also included in the previous travel warnings.
The Whole Village Destroyed by Myanmar Air Force Planes
Locals and resistant forces stated that Myanmar Air
Force dropped many bombs on the Araan Army (AA) trrops during the intense
battle at the Bawmi Village of Bassein Township but only destroyed the whole
village of Bawmi with almost 400 houses without defeating the AA there.
Battles started since the beginning of January in Pathein
Township next to the Gwa Township at the southernmost of Rakhine State now controlled
by AA. The AA tropps together with
allied PDF trtoops have reached the Baw Mi village after capturing the Magyizin
Village last week.
On January 16th, the fighting in Baumi village was
intense as the Myanmar Army supported by tanks, Naval ships and Air Force
planes. But on the 18th, AA was able to control the surroundings of the Baumi
village.
A local man confirms that following video footage
circulating on social media is of the burning of the Bawmi village. That area
is one of the famous beaches in Ayarwaddy region and is only 27 miles away from
Chaung Thar and 38 miles away from famous Ngwe Saung Resort Town populary with
foreign toursists.
As the battles are getting closer and closer, there are fewer tourists at Chaung Thar and Ngwe Saung beaches and some hotels are already closing their operations and evacuating their staff and hotel residents. A local travel agent said that only 3 hotels are already closed on Chaung Thar Beach but the rest are still open and there are still some tourists staying in them.
