June 5, 2009: Authorities in Mizoram have blocked the Indo-Myanmar border trade route no. 2 again, after opening it for two days for passage of goods, which were stuck near the Burma border.

The chief reason for the closure was an argument between two associations, which were responsible for transporting goods to Mizoram state. Earlier, Mr. Lalthanmawia of Champhai SP had issued an order to open the trade route from May 30 to June 1, 2009 to clear most of the goods, which had piled up in Tiau village in Burma. Now, the road has been closed again.

Most of the Burmese traders, usually take goods from Shwely and Muse towns near the China-Myanmar border, and then they cross over from Chin state to Mizoram State in India.

The goods, which are taken from the China-Myanmar border areas usually, take 2 weeks in order to reach the Indo-Myanmar border area, but now the authorities have closed the border road for almost one month. It creates many problems and difficulties for traders and they find it very hard to ferry their goods as well.

In fact, the goods which arrive at the border area cannot be carried to Aizawl city, without the permission of local associations. The Zokhawthar Welfare Committee (ZWC) used to take the responsibility of carrying goods to Melbuk village from the Zokhawthar village, after that the Champhai Transport Union (CTU) took responsibility to carry the goods up to Aizawl city. However, now there is a misunderstanding between the two groups, so the border road has been closed.  

Now the Burmese traders are thinking of transporting their goods through the Manipur border to Mizoram or Saiha District in Mizoram as the carrying charges are becoming higher and the local authorities have closed the border road, one of the traders said.

Indeed, Mizoram State is totally dependent upon Burmese goods. The prices of these goods have gone up drastically after the local authorities imposed restrictions.