A ban by the Burmese military junta authorities on travel at night along a main arterial road has severely inconvenienced residents and travellers in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state. The ban has been enforced by the Northern Military Command headquarters (Ma-Pa-Kha). The road also heads outside the town, a source said.

According to a traveller, people are not allowed to traverse along the road after 8 p.m. However, residents were unaware when the ban was enforced and those living around the road could not use it.

Travellers are in a spot because the ban on use of the road comes into force at 8 p.m. each night.  This forces travellers to make overnight halts costing them extra money, he added.

It is a main road which heads to Mogaung Township, Hpakant and Mandalay division from Myitkyina, said a resident in Myitkyina.

Last year, travel along the road was banned several times and the order came from the Northern Military Command headquarters, a resident added.