Increasingly problematic travel restrictions weigh on Arakan State

20 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
20 October 2022, Sittwe

Myanmar’s military regime has tightened travel restrictions in northern Arakan State, where tensions continue to escalate between the military and the Arakan Army (AA).

Since renewed fighting broke out in August, the junta has imposed travel restrictions on the Ponnagyun-Rathedaung, Agnumaw-Maungdaw, and Yaychanbyin-Agnumaw roads.

The Shwe Pyi Tan ferry boat service, which operates an extensive network of sea transport options in Arakan State, has been forced to halt its operations linking Sittwe to outlying destinations including Minbya, Mrauk-U, Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships since September 15, at the order of the junta-controlled Inland Water Transport department.

On Wednesday, Shwe Pyi Tan was also told to suspend its Sittwe-Pauktaw operations until further notice.

“I don’t know why it was suspended. We were told by our manager to suspend operations. And we don’t know how long it will last,” said a supervisor from Shwe Pyi Tan ferry boat service in Pauktaw.

There are 179 villages in Pauktaw Township, and the majority of residents trade with Sittwe for their livelihoods. The latest travel restrictions will create various hardships for locals, warned U Maung Maung from Thae Kone Village.

“We will have difficulties travelling either for business or social purposes. Small traders will also suffer. It only costs 5,000 kyats to travel between Pauktaw and Sittwe [overland]. But it costs 40,000 to 50,000 kyats to charter a boat,” he said.

The Myanmar military has also instructed non-ferry passenger boats offering Pauktaw-Sittwe routes to suspend operations, according to boat owners.

Fisheries business owner U Tun Tin from Nga Pyi Tet Village in Pauktaw Township said: “Residents from Pauktaw town mainly rely on express boats, and rural people from villages in Pauktaw Township mainly rely on ferries. The military should not ban those ferries because villagers will suffer various hardships.”