Buses operate with anxiety since fighting broke out on Yangon-Sittwe road

By Thet Naing 30 Aug 2019

Thet Naing | DMG
30 August, Sittwe
 
The Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army are fighting on a section of the Yangon-Sittwe road between Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U Township, this has raised concerns among bus lines and passengers regarding their safety.

That section of road has been blocked recently due to hostilities near Mahamuni Pagoda in Kyauktaw Township and Mt. Linn Mway Taung in Mrauk-U Township.

Security forces are questioning people who travel on this part of the road. Bus lines are running but they are nervous about the potential for bad situations to occur, said Ko Kyaw Naing, a driver for Shwe Man Yadana bus line.

“We are worried what will happen during our journeys. We are driving with growing unease and we worry that we may hit landmines along our designated routes,” he said.

Not only passengers and drivers, but also pedestrians from nearby villages are concerned for their safety because armed conflicts are taking place near the road.

The number of passengers has been decreasing now due to the clashes on that section of road, said U Ba Aye, manager of Shwe Man Yadana bus line.

Some bus lines are running regularly on the Yangon-Sittwe route, but some bus lines operating between Sittwe-Kyauktaw- Mrauk-U have suspended their services at the moment.

The ongoing fighting between the Tatmadaw and the AA in Arakan State has been escalating, resulting in more collateral damage.