Junta blockades of roadways, water routes persist in Arakan State despite latest truce

By DMG 01 Dec 2022

DMG Newsroom
1 December 2022, Sittwe

Though the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) agreed to observe an informal ceasefire nearly a week ago, major roadways and water routes in Arakan State remain blockaded by the regime.

The AA has described the truce as a humanitarian ceasefire, saying junta travel restrictions imposed since the conflict renewed are taking a heavy toll on Arakan State’s people, with scores of civilian casualties and farmers unable to harvest their crops due to indiscriminate artillery strikes by regime forces.

Early this week there were signs of restrictions easing on some roads, only to see blockades apparently reimposed days later.

The regime reopened the Maungdaw-Angumaw road on November 28, but the road section is currently closed, a truck driver told DMG.

“The Maungdaw-Angumaw road remains inaccessible. Residents from Khayaypyan and Thayay Konbaung villages are unable to travel to Maungdaw. A local media outlet reported that passenger buses planned to resume operations as local authorities said the Maungdaw-Angumaw road would be reopened on November 30,” the truck driver said.

The regime similarly reopened the Yaychanpyin-Angumaw waterway on November 28, but blocked off the water route again two days later, a ferryboat operator told DMG.

“We were allowed to resume operations on November 28 and 29, but we were banned from operating on November 30. I don’t know the reason,” he said. “When we resumed operations, junta soldiers checked passengers’ ID cards and we were not allowed to carry cement or fuel on the boats. The Yaychanpyin-Angumaw water route remains closed. Ferryboats from Rathedaung and Buthidaung are allowed to run. Ferry Boats are prohibited from going to Maungdaw.”

The Sittwe-Ponnagyun-Rathedaung road, meanwhile, has been blockaded since June 16.

“A few vehicles were allowed to traverse the Sittwe-Ponnagyun-Rathedaung road on November 28, but the road section is now blocked off,” a passenger bus driver said.

“Passenger bus drivers and truck drivers faced difficulties due to prolonged closure of the Sittwe-Ponnagyun-Rathedaung road. Some drivers went abroad to seek a better job,” he added.

The Sittwe-Ponnagyun, Minbya-Myebon, Sittwe-Ponnagyun-Rathedaung and Maungdaw-Angumaw roads remained inaccessible as of Thursday.

The regime has reopened the Sittwe-Buthidaung-Rathedaung, Sittwe-Pauktaw and Sittwe-Minbya waterways, but travel restrictions are not yet lifted for boat transport between the Arakan State capital and outlying destinations such as Mrauk-U, according to an official from the Sittwe-based Shwe Pyi Tan ferry boat service.

“Only Shwe Pyi Tan ferry boat service is allowed to resume operations, but locals dare not go. Despite the latest ceasefire, junta soldiers may open fire on ferry boats. Several junta soldiers are deployed near Kyatsin Bridge,” said a resident of Phalaungpyin Village in Minbya Township.

The Minbya-Myebon land and water routes remain closed, a resident of Minbya town told DMG.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from Arakan State military council spokesman U Hla Thein and local government ministers regarding the matter.

The travel restrictions have brought hardship for individuals and crimped vital supply lines, with the prices of basic goods and other commodities rising significantly in recent months due to lack of supply.