The junta has begun constructing fences along the riverside bordering the downtown area of Kyaukphyu Town in Arakan (Rakhine) State, citing security reasons, locals said.
The junta plans to build an extended fence from Ngalapway Ward Village to Gonechon Town on the outskirts of Kyaukphyu, with construction already underway on several sections, according to a source close to the General Administration Office.
“Some department staff under the junta are already aware of the plan to construct fences in the town. There are also opinions that this construction might be aimed at countering a potential offensive from the Arakan Army (AA). Currently, stones and sand are being piled up to prepare the concrete pillars for the fences along the riverbank near the Kyauktalone checkpoint in Gonechon and close to Pyin Phyu Maw Ward,” he said.
Kyaukphyu, a major district capital located on an island, borders the Bay of Bengal and is surrounded by rivers and streams.
Residents suggested that the junta's plan to fence along the riverbanks might also be intended to confine the local population.
“The junta troops have already built outposts and blocked all inland entrances and exits to the town, and they’ve also planted landmines. Now, they’re planning to fence and close off the waterway exits too. In other words, all exits for locals will be sealed. We're quite concerned that this could be part of an effort to confine us,” a Kyaukphyu resident said.
The junta has been blocking land routes and waterways in and out of Kyaukphyu since November 2023.
However, with rising military tensions, some locals have already evacuated by any means available.
Additionally, fencing around the town may create significant challenges for locals who rely on fishing in the rivers and streams for their livelihoods.
“In the past, despite the junta's tight blockade of the town, people could still use the waterways. However, with this new fencing, that option is no longer available. If war breaks out in the town or if the junta increases arrests, residents will have no way to escape,” a woman residing in Kyaukphyu said.
In August, the junta erected an extended fence along the riverbank near the naval base in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State. A similar measure is now being implemented in Kyaukphyu.
The military situation between the junta and the Arakan Army (AA) is currently tense in Kyaukphyu Township, with the AA encircling and blockading the junta's Danyawaddy naval base and the 32nd Police Battalion.
