Junta soldiers seize goods, extort Arakan traders in Ayeyarwady

By Admin 17 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
17 July 2024, Sittwe

Junta soldiers are extorting money from Arakan State traders shipping goods through Ayeyarwady Region to Arakan State.

At a jetty in Ayeyarwady Region’s Pathein Township, junta soldiers have confiscated food, diesel and consumer goods sourced from the region by traders from Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu, Manaung, Taungup, Mrauk-U and Kyauktaw townships. They have also sought to extort money from them.

Vessels carrying about 1 billion kyats worth of goods were stopped by junta soldiers at a jetty in Pathein Township in the first week of July.

“Junta captain Wai Yan Kyaw led the arrest. Merchants holding citizenship identity cards showing that they are Arakan State residents were targeted in particular. Goods were also confiscated,” said a trader from Arakan State who is currently in Pathein.

Eight-hundred barrels of diesel and food were seized at the jetty on Sunday. Only 40 barrels were returned after 300 million kyats were given to junta soldiers, said a source close to merchants.

One resident from Kyaukphyu said: “It was more like a robbery. They take your belongings and ask for money from you, but you don’t get back your belongings even after you give them money. Junta soldiers have extorted from Arakan State merchants for a long time. It has worsened lately. Many traders have lost their capital after their goods were seized.”

Merchants ship goods from Yangon via Bawmi Jetty in Pathein. They are taking risks in doing so as Arakan State is facing a scarcity of consumer goods and pharmaceuticals after the regime blockaded roads and waterways following renewed fighting that began in November.

One trader from Arakan State explained: “All the trade routes to Arakan State have been completely cut off. Shortages will worsen and prices will continue to increase.”

India also recently blockaded an overland route used to import goods from Mizoram to Arakan State via Paletwa in neighbouring Chin State. Many traders from Arakan State are trapped along the route.