Regime fishing ban takes toll on locals in Kyaukphyu

By Admin 22 Aug 2025

DMG Newsroom

22 August 2025, Kyaukphyu

Since November 2023, when the Arakan Army (AA) began battles for control of towns in Arakan State, the military regime has banned offshore fishing in Kyaukpyu Township.

However, unable to bear the impact of food shortages, residents of Kyaukphyu have resorted to fishing in the sea and along the riverbanks, and junta soldiers have reportedly been beating and threatening people fishing in Kyaukphyu Township.

Junta soldiers arrested and beat at least eight residents who were fishing near Kyaukphyu's Cediya Ward, and burned their fishing equipment on August 18.

"The junta soldiers burned all the fishing equipment of the local people who were fishing. Some of them were even beaten. The junta soldiers said that they would shoot the locals if they were caught fishing again, and then let them go," said a Kyaukphyu resident aware of the incident.

Residents of Kyaukphyu, many of whom earn their living by fishing along the riverbanks near Kyaukphyu's Cediya, Nalapwe, Kanyintaw, Pyinphyumaw and Thabanchaung wards, are frequently subjected to extortion and threat of arrest by junta soldiers.

"We were beaten for fishing near the shore because we had nothing to eat. They also threatened to shoot us. What are we going to do without food? Our whole family is starving," said a local man who was beaten by junta soldiers.

According to DMG data, since November 2023, at least nine residents have been arrested while fishing on the riverbanks near Kyaukphyu and released on bail.

The detained locals are from Kyaukphyu's Paikseik, Pyinphyumaw, Thanbanchaung and Asoeya wards, and were released after paying junta soldiers between K50,000 and K200,000 for bail each. There have been many cases of fishermen being arrested and imprisoned, as well as the destruction and confiscation of fishing boats in the Thanzit River and the Bay of Bengal.

There is fighting between the military regime and the Arakan Army 6 miles from Kyaukphyu town.