The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) and the Siaha District branch of the Mizoram Commercial Vehicle Owners’ Association (MCVOA) in India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to regulate and streamline cross-border trade.
According to a Times of India report on October 31, the agreement was finalized on October 29 at the Press Club in Siaha, Mizoram, between a ULA/AA delegation and local MCVOA officials.
The MoU aims to enhance cooperation along the southern section of the Mizoram-Myanmar border and formalize existing informal trade channels. Both parties stated that the initiative is designed to resolve border-area disputes and operational challenges through direct dialogue and coordination.
During the meeting, representatives discussed mutual concerns, emphasizing the need to standardize and establish fair rental rates for vehicles and boats in the Myanmar border villages of Rali and Salachwa. Situated on opposite banks of the border-defining Longpu River, these two villages serve as primary hubs for cross-river trade. As part of the agreement, checkpoints in both Rali and Salachwa will now remain open daily until 8:00 PM.
Local merchants welcome the increased bilateral coordination and extended checkpoint hours, viewing it as a vital step toward stabilizing the regional flow of commodities.
“Long-term stability is only possible through mutual understanding and cooperation,” a Rakhine merchant remarked.
“Traders face numerous challenges, from transit bottlenecks to ethnic tensions, which require immense patience. This agreement is a welcome development that should make resolving local disputes much easier.”
Since the outbreak of heavy fighting in Rakhine State in November 2023, the ruling military junta has strictly blockaded land and water routes connecting the region to the rest of Myanmar, enforcing a restrictive “four-cuts” strategy.
This total isolation has forced Rakhine merchants to rely heavily on supply lines running through southern Mizoram to secure essential goods, including medicine and consumer products.
However, the surge in informal trade has triggered frequent friction between merchants and transport workers at border crossings. On September 14, a heated dispute over motorboat departure schedules broke out at the Khaing Khi village jetty in Siaha District between Arakanese traders and port officials from the Mara Thyutee Paw (MTP/Mara Youth Association).
The altercation led to a temporary closure of the critical Khaing Khi–Lungpu trade route on September 16. Following successful mediation by ULA/AA officials, the route was officially reopened on September 24. This new MoU represents a formal effort to prevent similar trade disruptions in the future.
Narinjara