Junta restricts fishing for Sittwe villagers

By Admin 27 Aug 2026

DMG Newsroom

27 August 2026, Sittwe

The military junta has prohibited residents of Narikan Village in Sittwe Township, Arakan State, from fishing in the creek they rely on for their livelihoods, according to local sources.

The military imposed the fishing restriction several days ago, citing security concerns.

"They no longer allow anyone to enter the creek. However, if people pay money at the checkpoints, those who pay are allowed to fish. Although they cite security as the reason, the reality is they mainly do it to collect checkpoint fees," a source said.

About 30 families in Narikan Village depend on fishing for their livelihoods.

Due to the restriction, families are facing severe hardships as they must continue paying rental fees for fishing nets and fishing spots while covering their daily living expenses.

"Because there are no other jobs available, people have to rely on fishing to survive. With this ban, daily wage earners face even greater difficulties. Some are even worried about school expenses for their children. Even before this, the villagers could never afford to fish using large nets," said a source familiar with the situation.

The military junta has forcibly relocated more than 10 villages in Sittwe Township under the pretext of security concerns.

As the military reinforces its troops and tightens security measures in Sittwe, local residents continue to face severe restrictions on their movement and livelihoods.