The junta has prohibited young men and any unmarried men from travelling on the road between Myitkyina, the Kachin State capital, and Putao Town, 209 miles (386km) to the north in Kachin State.
Since 10 November 2024, young men and unmarried men travelling by vehicle on the Putao to Myitkyina Road have been stopped at junta checkpoints and forced to turn back, according to a 40-year-old bus driver operating on the route.
He said: “Young people are not allowed to travel along this route in either direction. The ban also applies to men who are not yet married. Those who started their journey from Myitkyina were instructed to turn back at Myitsone. As a result, we have already stopped accepting unmarried male passengers.”
Young passengers traveling from Myitkyina Town to Putao Town were forced to turn back at the Tan Phaye checkpoint near Myitsone, about 25 miles (about 40 km) north of Myitkyina Town. Those heading in the opposite direction were turned back at the checkpoint in Longshayang Village, about 17 miles (about 27km) south of Putao Town.
A 50-year-old man who lives in Putao Town’s Lay Yin Kwin (Airport) Ward said: “The junta is likely concerned that young people will join the People's Defence Force [PDF] operating along the Putao-Myitkyina Road, which is why they are imposing this ban. Last year, many young people joined the PDF, and the group often targets young passengers for recruitment. This is probably why the junta is using this approach.”
As well as banning young people from travelling on the Putao to Myitkyina Road, the junta has also instructed people travelling from Putao to Myitkyina to register with the Putao-based Infantry Battalion 46 (IB 46) before their trips.
The junta controls Myitkyina and Putao towns, but since May 2024 a Kachin Independence Army (KIA)-led resistance coalition has held the town of Sumprabun. It is about halfway between the towns being about 82 miles (132km) from Putao Town and 127 miles (204km) from Myitkyina.
Just recently the KIA-led coalition has also taken control of four junta military camps along the Putao to Myitkyina Road from Tiyang Zup Village in Myitkyina Township where the Mali Kha river joins the Myitsone, about 74 miles (119 km)south of Sumprabun Town to Myitkyina Town 53 miles (85 km) away.
From north to south the camps on the road taken by the KIA coalition are: Tiyang Zug Camp at Tiyang Zup Village; Insawp Zup Camp; Tang Hpre Camp at the Myitsone confluence; and Jaw Bum Camp on the outskirts of Myitkyina Town.
