Junta’s ban on transporting rice creates rice scarcity in Tenasserim Township

October 30, 2024

HURFOM: In July 2024, the military security gate at the Baw Di Cam Bridge, Tenasserim Town, Tenasserim Division banned the transportation of rice and other basic food items into the area. The ban created a rice scarcity in Ta Guu, Nyaung Pin Kwin, and Maw Tone village tracks of Tenasserim Township.

“Rice can only be bought in Town. We can’t buy rice here for even three or four days. As it isn’t okay to transport rice, we can’t buy even a small amount of rice for our families,” said a resident from Ta Guu village.

The junta has blocked transportation of rice to Ta Guu village tract both by truck and by boat. Villagers have no choice but to pay 150,000 MMK for a bag of low-quality rice.

Some villagers have gone to Tenasserim Town by motorbikes to buy rice. But they can carry only two bags of rice at a time and must also be prepared to pay large amounts for ‘transportation’ fees.

“During these days, we can’t buy rice as we want. We’ve transported rice from Tenasserim Town via a shortcut but the amount is not that much. The junta’s 561^st battalion has blocked the transportation. The price of rice has declined in town but it’s expensive here due to the ban on the transportation,” said a Nyaun Pin Kwin resident.

The junta has banned transportation of rice in Nyaung Pin Kwin village for three months and villagers pay a high price to buy rice from nearby Tha Bot Sake village.

Since April 2024, the junta has implemented a total ban on the transportation of rice and other basic food items in the East Forest Area of Dawei Township, Pa La Town of Pu Law Township and Tha Yet Chaung Township, creating food scarcity in the region.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News