July 9th, 2022
The junta troops have tightened inspections of the people who travel inland and by waterway in some townships in Arakan State since the beginning of July, according to locals.
In late June, the Arakan Army (AA) arrested more than 12 soldiers and police members. As a result, the Myanmar army has tightened inspections of land and waterways in Sittwe, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun and MraukU Townships and arrested around 50 locals from those townships.
Currently, the military is inspecting travellers along Yangon-Sittwe road and those who arrive in Sittwe by water route. A Myanmar naval ship which stops at the mouth of Kaladan River is inspecting the passenger vessels which are plying from Pauktaw to Sittwe, every day.
“The navy inspects the travellers and asks for money. The travellers who have the NRC cards are allowed to take the vessel. The soldiers ask for money from the vessel owners and threaten the travellers who have no NRC cards not to take the vessel, a vessel owner who declined to be named told the DMG.
Due to the tightened inspections, some travellers are worried about taking ferry boats. So, the number of travellers has declined, he adds.
In addition, the Myanmar army has taken position at junctions in downtown Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun and has tightened the inspections there, according to locals.
“The soldiers mainly inspect phones, NRC cards and vehicle license. They also inspect photos and videos in the mobile phones. In addition, the military also inspects all passersby in downtown Kyauktaw,” Ko Than Htay, the driver from Kyauktaw-Sittwe passenger bus line told the DMG.
The Myanmar army is inspecting passersby at the markets and junctions in Ponnagyun Township, a Ponnagyun local told the DMG.
“I saw the Myanmar army at the market this morning. Soldiers are deployed on the major roads. I saw the military inspecting the passersby and vehicles on the roads,” he said.
When the DMG phoned Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kaw Thura to ask him about the military’s tightened inspection in Arakan State, the minister’s PSO replied that the Colonel was busy.
When the DMG phoned Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun, Spokesperson of the military council, no reply was received.
During the two-year-long fighting in Arakan State, the Myanmar army tightened inspections in inland and waterways. The military arrested the suspects during the inspections.
Locals are worried about the possible resumption of fighting in Arakan State as the military tension between the Myanmar army and the Arakan Army (AA) continues to mount.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)