A senior police officer said the terrorist attacks on the border guard force in Maungtaw and subsequent attacks on the government security forces were to force Rakhine people to leave the town and to disrupt the local administration. Police Major General Thura San Lwin, the Commander of the Border Guard Force No 1 made the comment during a media briefing to a group of visiting journalist to the region on 21 December, The Voice newspaper reported. The police chief said majority of whom involve in terrorist attacks have received military training and they have received support from the local villagers. The government allow a group of local and foreign journalist to travel to the areas, where a series of attacks on the security forces taking place since 9 October. Police Major General Thura San Lwin said 609 people suspected of involvement in the attacks were until 16 December. In a recent report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) said the comments by Thura San Lwin was an attempt to drag the ordinary Rakhine people into the conflict between the armed groups while the attacks were so far carried out only against the security forces. Reference: The Voice