Arakan Army supports India-backed Kaladan transportation project

By DMG 19 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
19 June 2022, Sittwe 

The Arakan Army (AA) does not intend to object to the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project being implemented by the Myanmar and Indian governments if it will benefit the Arakanese people. 

Khaing Thukha, spokesman for the Arakan Army, said the ethnic armed group had been contacted by organisations involved in the project and that they had no objections as it would be a beneficial investment for the Arakanese people. 

“If the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project benefits our people, we have no objection. We will have a good discussion with the contacting organisation about the project and will cooperate as needed,” he replied to a query raised by DMG at a press conference on June 14. 

Khaing Thukha said details of the communication between the AA and the organisation, which he did not name, have not yet been released. 

Myanmar and India signed a bilateral agreement in 2008 to connect the port and inland water transport terminals in Sittwe and Paletwa to the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, also linking from Sittwe to the port city of Kolkata in “mainland” India. 

The US$484 million project, which is being funded by India, will include two major land and sea routes: a waterway from Sittwe to Paletwa and a road link from Paletwa to Mizoram. Construction of the road from Paletwa to Zorinpui in Mizoram has been impeded by the region’s precarious security situation, the Indian ambassador to Myanmar told media in January 2020. 

Fighting between the Myanmar military and the AA has contributed to delays in getting the Kaladan project off the ground, and the two governments are currently negotiating to finalise project details. 

Ships to be used in the project have been assigned and work is underway to turn the port of Sittwe into an internationally recognised port, the consul of the Indian Consulate in Sittwe told DMG. 

“We have handed over six ships to be used in the project. A to Z Exin, the company in charge of the port, is doing what is needed at the port. In particular, it is working to get an internationally recognised port certificate for this port,” he added. 

Arakanese businessmen say that if the project is completed, Arakan State’s economy and trade volume will grow significantly, with Arakan products being exported directly to India. 

“At present, imported goods reach Arakan State via Yangon,” said U Khin Maung Gyi, a veteran businessman. “If this project is completed, Arakan State will be less dependent on mainland Myanmar and the state’s economy will grow significantly.”