Locals are transporting petrol needed for use in Kachin State by motorcycle from townships in upper Sagaing Region and selling it across the entire state, according to local sources.
Local traders are transporting fuel by motorcycle from villages on the border between Kawlin and Indaw Townships in upper Sagaing Region to Nam See Awng village in Mohnyin Township, according to local residents.
A local from Mohnyin said: “They’re transporting non-stop for 24 hours. Even on the main road, you’ll see motorcycles everywhere. If you pause for a moment, hundreds of motorcycles pass by. First, they go through Mohnyin, then Nan Mar, Ho Pin, Mogaung, Nammatee, Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Hpakant, Tanai, and Indaw. They use lower Indaw routes.”
Although the military junta attempted to transport fuel need for Kachin State through the border town of Kan Paik Ti in July, this only reportedly covered Myitkyina and Waingmaw Townships.
For other townships, traders are transporting fuel by motorcycle through the border town of Indaw between Kachin State and Sagaing Region, distributing it for transportation, agriculture, jade mining, and mining sectors.
Due to the inability to import fuel, locals now rely solely on fuel distributed by motorcycle from Mohnyin, which has led to rising fuel prices, locals say.
Furthermore, the military council has blocked fuel imports in many townships across Sagaing Region, including Banmauk, Katha, Htigyaing, Kalay, Mawlaik, Kyunhla, Ye-U, Khin-U, Paungbyin, Myinmu, Pale, Wetlet, Salingyi, Budalin, Indaw, Yinmabin, Kanbalu, Tamu, Myaung, Tabayin, and Kawlin.
A fuel trader in Banmauk said: “There’s no fuel coming in now. No more fuel (92/95, premium diesel), just some low-grade fuel. We can’t do anything about that.”
The military council announced on 17 November that it had cut off fuel supplies to townships in Kachin State, Sagaing Region, Arakan State, and Chin State to prevent fuel from reaching resistance forces.
Sent by Shanni Voice.
