Despite the latest ceasefire, Myanmar’s military regime continues to restrict the supply of medicines from Arakan State’s Kyauktaw to Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State.
The regime on December 3 reopened a water route between Kyauktaw and Paletwa, which had been closed for about three months amid renewed fighting between the military and Arakan Army (AA). The two sides reached an informal ceasefire on November 26.
But locals in Paletwa Township still are not allowed to transport rice, medicines, fertiliser, cement, fuel and steel products into the area.
“Merchants and pharmacy store owners have to seek permission for transportation of rice and medicines with the recommendations of the doctors. If merchants want to purchase 200 sacks of rice, they have to carry the rice bags on cargo boats provided by the military,” a local trader from Paletwa told DMG on condition of anonymity.
Merchants are reportedly required to have a letter of recommendation from the ward administrator, respective township municipality and township administrator to gain approval from the military’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 289 to buy rice and medicines.
As a result of restrictions on the transportation of goods, the prices of commodities in Paletwa are skyrocketing and locals are facing many difficulties.
“I have submitted a letter seeking approval from the military to buy rice since a month ago. I no longer have rice to sell and some have only a few rice stocks. In Paletwa, we sell the rice according to the price set by the military,” said a rice merchant in Paletwa.
The price of local rice is K41,000 per sack, while the price of Paw San Hmwe is K61,000 per bag in Kyauktaw. In Paletwa, the price of local rice is K51,000 per sack and the high-quality Paw San Hmwe rice is K71,000 per sack.
Fuel price is around K500,000 per barrel of gasoline in Kyauktaw, but the price of a barrel of gasoline in Paletwa is K750,000.
Paletwa residents have called on the regime to lift all restrictions on vessels plying the route between Paletwa and Kyauktaw, and to enlist Z-craft operated by the regime in service of better supplying Paletwa.
“We want the regime to allow us to transport restricted items on the vessels so as to reduce the transportation charges,” said another Paletwa resident.
DMG attempted to phone Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura and Arakan State military council spokesman U Hla Thein to seek comment on the regime’s restrictions of medicines and commodities, but they could not be reached.
Basic goods needed for Paletwa Township are mainly transported from Kyauktaw along the Kaladan River.
