The authorities have suspended the ferry service route between Kyauktaw Township in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in Chin State after the explosion of two landmines in Paletwa Township. Nobody has accepted responsibility for laying the mines.

The water route between Kyauktaw-Paletwa was closed for more than one year due to fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Tatmadaw. On April 22nd, the suspended ferry service resumed.

A ferry boat owner said: “The suspension of the water route comes after the explosion of two mines in Paletwa Township. The authorities have suspended the ferry route since May 30th. We can go to Kyauktaw only with the permission of the Division Commander of the Division-11 based at the 289-Battalion in Paletwa. But I don’t dare go. The major difficulty is a health problems. I don’t dare go to Kyauktaw to meet the doctor, although I am not feeling well.”

U Kyaw Maung, a ferry boat owner from Paletwa Township said: “I can go to Kyauktaw Township only when I have the recommendation letter from the township administrator. Although we can go to Kyauktaw with the recommendation letter, we still worry about our security.”