Burma army soldiers blocking transport of food and fuel into Arakan State
By Network Media Group
February 28, 2024
Burma army soldiers have been blocking the transportation of food supplies and fuel from the Irrawaddy Region to Arakan State since the third week of February, according to local business people.
A local businessman said that soldiers have blocked the transportation of fuel and food supplies including rice, cooking oil, onion, potato, chili, watermelon, sweet potato, maze, cabbage, fruit, and dried foods such as instant noodles.
“They did not officially announce restrictions on the transportation of food supplies to Arakan State, but soldiers at military checkpoints told us that food supplies were not allowed to be transported now. Even in the Irrawaddy Region, they do not allow us to transport food supplies to Thabaung Township, which borders Arakan State. We have lost capital and time. We are so tired of this,” a businessman, who usually transports food supplies from Thabaung Township to Arakan state, told NMG.
Local people report that Burma army soldiers are strictly inspecting both travelers and food supplies from places which are connected to Arakan State by highways or waterways. These locations include Pathein, Laputta, Nga Pu Taw, Thabaung, Ngayok Kawng, Chaung Tha, Ngwe Sawng, Shwe Thaung Yan, Bokale, Dedaye, and Pyapon Townships.
The Burma army has recently increased patrols in areas which are situated near the border between Arakan State and Irrawaddy Region; including Kyan Khin, Betye, Lay Myetna, Yay Kyi, Nga Thaing Chaung, Thabaung, Chaung Tha Townships and the Arakan Yoma mountain range. The Burma army has also increased its security measures and installed artillery units at Haigyi Island, Coconut Island, Turtle Island and the Htip Suan Tapinmaw area.
“Min Aung Hlaing and other ministers often visit Pathein town. They have attempted to build strengthened military bases there. In practice, the Burma army has been attacked on the ground,” U Thein Win, who lives in Pathein town and aged over 60 and is a former Burma army soldier, told NMG.
The South-western Military Command headquarters uses various methods to recruit new soldiers in Irrawaddy Region. Local people, with knowledge of the Burma army, said that the Burma army has recalled former soldiers and organized short military trainings for them in Irrawaddy Region.
On 3 February, a number of high-level Burma army officers held a meeting and discussed how to address the ongoing intense clashes in Arakan State. Participants at the meeting included Lt-Gen Phone Myat, who is the commander of the Bureau of Special Operations no-3 (BSO-3); Maj-Gen Wai Lin, who is commander of South-western military command headquarters; Maj-Gen Htin Latt Oo, who is commander of western military command headquarters; and Maj-Gen Zaw Hein and Brig-Gen Kyi Thaik.
