Regime imposes travel restrictions on civil servants in Thandwe

By Admin 07 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
7 June 2024, Thandwe

Myanmar’s military regime has imposed strict travel restrictions on civil servants in Thandwe Township, Arakan State, with government employees reportedly allowed to travel only with the permission of their superiors.

Local people and civil servants having been fleeing fighting between the regime and Arakkha Army (AA) in Thandwe Township, forcing government offices to shut down.

“Only offices for the General Administration Department (GAD) and Department of Education are open in Thandwe and some government offices have closed. The regime has imposed travel restrictions on civil servants in Thandwe as the junta administration collapsed,” said a source close to the township GAD.

Fighting has been raging in Thandwe Township for nearly two months, since the AA unleashed an onslaught on junta positions near the Tha Htay Chaung hydropower dam project on April 13.

The regime has restricted the travel of departmental staff and has also ordered the arrest of passenger vehicles that are transporting without permission.

The AA has been clashing with the military near Got Village, about two miles from Ngapali Town, since June 2.

“The regime is reportedly preparing to defend against the AA offensive at Thandwe Airport. The military’s tactical commanding officer leads the defence preparations at Thandwe Airport to prevent the AA from seizing the Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 566 and 55,” said a local resident in Thandwe.

The regime has closed Thandwe Airport for one week, from June 3 to 9, due to the escalating near Ngapali Town.

Locals in Thandwe are worried that they will be trapped by fighting due to the junta’s closure of Thandwe Airport and road blockades amid the ongoing fighting.

“Local people in Thandwe rely on the air route since the fighting began in the area. It is impossible for the regime to reopen the Thandwe Airport in a short period of time due to fierce fighting. In case of emergency, locals are allowed to travel with recommendation letters signed by respective ward or village administrators. Internally displaced people can’t go anywhere easily. Locals will be harmed if fighting erupts in urban areas,” said a Thandwe resident.

It has been nearly two months since the AA clashed with the military in Thandwe Township, with the number of IDPs as a result of the conflict surpassing 50,000.