People from six villages are facing difficulties as a combined force of junta solidiers and junta-affiliated Pyu Saw Htee militias, has closed the road and restricted access through Kyauk Ne Maw village in Launglon Township, local residents said.
Since September, the combined force has closed the road citing security concerns. The people from Kyauk Wut Pyin, Auk Kyauk Wut, Nyaw Pyin, Kyauk Mat Tat, Kyet Hlut and Khaung Lan villages are facing difficulties as they need to pass through Kyauk Ne Maw village to get to their homes.
A local resident of Kyauk Wut Pyin said that since the military council closed the road and restricted access, commodity prices in the region have skyrocketed and there is a shortage of basic food.
Due to the restrictions imposed by the combined forces, the price of a bag of rice has soared to nearly Ks 150,000, while a chicken egg costs around Ks 700 and a bottle of cooking oil is over Ks 10,000. The prices of other goods have also gone up.
However, the combined forces allow some merchants affiliated with them to transport goods based on the type of commodities, but only after paying extortion fees. Residents said that only those connected to the military council are profiting from this arrangement.
As the military council has closed the road and restricted passage, the locals report that they have to travel to Dawei and Launglon via the water ways for emergency health issues.
Ko Kywe, Deputy head of the Launglon Township People’s Defense Force (LLPDF) said this restriction on passage is a form of torture for the local people.
On 9 September, the revolutionary force raided the camps of the military council and Pyu Saw Htee in Kyauk Ne Maw village. The military council suffered causalities in the raids. The revolutionary forces burned down the camps, he added.
Following the raids, the military council deployed over 40 soldiers to the area. They then restricted travel by setting up checkpoints in and around the village, in collaboration with the remaining Pyu Saw Htee members.
Sent by Than Lwin Times