Fuel Transport Ban in Dawei Deepens Hardship for Locals Amid Ongoing Military Restrictions

May 8, 2025

Dawei District, Tanintharyi Region — Since April 24, 2025, the military junta has imposed a ban on transporting fuel from Dawei town to surrounding areas, according to local fuel distributors. This sudden restriction has caused fuel shortages and rising prices, making daily life increasingly difficult for residents in rural townships.

Fuel sellers reported that the junta ordered stations along Kamnar Road in Dawei town not to sell fuel to customers from other townships. Local sources said this directive came into effect immediately on April 24, leaving buyers from Laung Lon, Yebyu, Thayetchaung, and other areas unable to access much-needed supplies.

Security checkpoints—particularly Kamyawkin Bridge (en route to Laung Lon), Byaw Taw Wa (towards the eastern forested zones), Pauk Taing Gate (leading to Thayetchaung), and Eain Shae Pyin (towards Yebyu)—have also tightened restrictions on transporting basic food items and fuel. Locals report that if fuel is found during inspections, it is often confiscated on the spot.

As of May 7, residents in rural areas have once again started facing acute fuel shortages. Prices have surged, with a single liter of fuel now costing between 6,000 to 9,000 MMK, depending on the location. Some areas have run out of fuel entirely.

These kinds of restrictions have become more frequent since the military coup. Every time the conflict escalates, the junta intensifies crackdowns on the movement of goods. Communities are often left struggling, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

Because of the current ban, people in eastern Dawei, Laung Lon Township, and Thayetchaung are facing rising costs and widespread shortages of fuel and essential goods. On May 7 alone, market prices for key commodities reportedly rose by 25–35%. Many small shops and sellers cannot restock due to transport blockages.

In the early morning of May 7, local sources confirmed that a resistance group launched an attack on the junta’s military checkpoint at the Pauk Taing Bridge, a major route into Dawei. Drivers stuck at the checkpoint said gunfire broke out just before 6:00 a.m.

At the same time, residents from nearby Kyauk Yup and Shamma Twin village tracts reported seeing a junta reconnaissance aircraft hovering over the area, further increasing tensions on the ground.

Locals also noted that in early May, the military replaced some officers at the Pauk Taing Bridge Toll Gate and has since tightened inspections even further.

As movement becomes more restricted and living conditions worsen, communities in southern Burma are once again bearing the brunt of the junta’s deliberate strategy of cutting off vital resources as a form of collective punishment.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News