Myanmar military building new outpost in Kyaukphyu

By Admin 08 Jan 2024

DMG Newsroom
8 January 2024, Kyaukphyu

The Myanmar military is building a new outpost on Mount Taung Shae near Aung Zedi Village in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township, site of the China-backed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and deep-sea port.

Junta soldiers forced Aung Zedi villagers on Monday to remove bushes at the location where they plan to build the new outpost, said residents.

“They took more than 10 men from the village to carry heavy weapons and remove bushes. I think they will build a stronghold there with artillery,” said a resident.

The location is only separated by a tributary from Nga La Pwe Ward in Kyaukphyu town. It is also a 30-minute walk from Taung Yin and Zedi Ya wards, and a few furlongs from the Kyaukphyu-Sittwe road.

There are thousands of acres of farmland and crop fields grown by locals near Mount Taung Shae.

“We never thought that the military would build a base there. There are many farmers working on farms near there, and we are worried that we will not be able to go freely,” said a farmer from Taung Yin Ward.

A Kyaukphyu resident said: “There is a road near Mount Taung Shae that links villages with wards in Kyaukphyu. If we are to go to Kyaukphyu town by road, there are only two roads; the Yangon-Kyaukphyu highway and the road near Mount Taung Shae. Perhaps this is why they have built a hilltop post there.”

During the ongoing fighting, junta troops and the Arakan Army (AA) clashed near Danyawadi naval base and Sanae town in Kyaukphyu Township last month. Military tensions are still running high in the area.

At the same time, the regime is pushing ahead with the China-backed Kyaukphyu SEZ project.