India to repatriate Myanmar merchants trapped on Mizoram-Paletwa trade route linking Arakan

By Admin 29 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
29 June 2024, Paletwa, Chin State

The Central Young Lai Association (CYLA) is planning to repatriate Myanmar merchants who are stranded along the road from Lawngtlai in India’s Mizoram to Chin State’s Paletwa Township, an important overland trade route that links with Arakan State.

Hundreds of traders found themselves stuck on the road with goods in tow after the CYLA blockaded the route used to import goods from Lawngtlai to Arakan State through Paletwa Township as of June 24.

The CYLA plans to repatriate the trapped traders on June 30. Traders said they would not be allowed to deliver their goods.

“We are not allowed to transport our goods into Arakan State, but we will be sent back home. They said that we have to show the invoice at the Indian store where we originally bought the products and sell them back,” said one trapped merchant.

The trade route running through Paletwa has been increasingly relied upon to import basic foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and fuel to Arakan State as Myanmar’s military regime has cut off the state’s trade with other parts of the country, including the commercial capital Yangon.

The CYLA said the supplies were meant to provide for the basic needs of the Arakanese people, but claimed that the Arakkha Army (AA) was using them to fight ethnic Chin armed groups.

Traders say their not being allowed to transport the goods they are hauling will inflict significant financial pain.

“CYLA officials told us to make sure to tell the shops where we bought the [cargo] and get our money back. But June 30 is Sunday. Some shops are closed. It is impossible for us to get back our money from Indian shops,” said another merchant.

The Myanmar military has blockaded roads and waterways in Arakan State since the AA launched an offensive against the junta on November 13, leading to shortages of food, pharmaceuticals and other vital goods.

The Mizoram-Chin-Arakan trade route has been in use since the AA seized Paletwa Township in January.

The route was blocked for the first time on May 25, and was reopened on June 12 following negotiations between AA and CYLA leaders.