Junta Expands 4 Cuts Campaign in Tanintharyi Region, Severely Restricting Food, Fuel, and Medicine Supplies

April 29, 2025

The junta has significantly intensified its 4 Cuts campaign across Tanintharyi Region, expanding military deployments and fortifying defensive positions while severely restricting the flow of essential goods, including food, fuel, and medicine.
Local communities are facing increasing hardship as heavy restrictions, arbitrary arrests, and harsh punishments are imposed on traders and civilians.

As part of these measures, junta forces have aggressively blocked the transportation of daily necessities, leading to severe shortages of rice and basic food items, skyrocketing prices, and a dramatic disruption to local trade and livelihoods.
These restrictions are being heavily enforced along the Ye-Dawei Highway and the Dawei-Myeik Highway, according to witnesses, who report that junta troops have set up tight checkpoints.

A 30-year-old woman from Dawei town shared:

“They say they are targeting armed resistance forces, but in reality, they are cutting off supplies and pushing the entire civilian population toward starvation. Rice, basic food items, fuel, and even medicines are becoming extremely scarce and expensive. This started intensifying around April 22 and now it’s affecting areas all the way down to the southern parts of Dawei.”

Traders and transporters report that main inspection points, especially at Kamyawkin Bridge, Pauk Tai Checkpoint, Eain Shae Pyin Checkpoint, and Byaw Taw Wa Checkpoint around Dawei, are operating under extremely abusive practices.
A trader from Laung Lon town explained:

“The junta checkpoints are the worst. They are strictly blocking food and fuel transport. Before, if drivers paid bribes, they could pass. But now, the troops are confiscating goods outright, arresting traders without notice.”

A 50-year-old lorry driver reported that in the past months, paying informal taxes to junta forces allowed limited trade to continue. However, recently, even those extorted payments have been rejected by higher junta authorities, resulting in immediate arrests and confiscations.

On April 27, local witnesses confirmed that at least seven traders were arrested and detained at Kamyawkin Checkpoint under accusations of illegally transporting rice.
Junta forces seized an estimated 20 tons of rice during the incident.

Local communities warn that the ongoing blockade on food and fuel transport, while causing immediate distress, could lead to even more severe consequences in the coming weeks, including widespread fuel shortages, sharp price hikes, and supply collapses.

An emergency response volunteer assisting displaced communities said:

“This kind of deliberate strangulation is creating a massive humanitarian crisis. Even if people have money, they cannot buy food or fuel. It’s a cruel tactic to weaken the people’s resilience and force them into submission under junta control. We need to raise awareness urgently.”

In addition to Dawei Township, reports from the ground indicate that similar heavy restrictions are now being enforced in conflict-affected townships, including Tanintharyi, Pulao, Eastern Dawei Forest Areas, and Thayetchaung.
Resistance fighters and humanitarian aid providers in these areas confirm that the junta continues to cut off supplies of food and medicine, deepening the crisis.

Analysts observe that the junta’s escalated control tactics coincide with ongoing major investments in the Dawei Special Economic Zone, particularly following recent agreements with Russian companies.
This suggests that the junta is seeking to militarily secure and control the entire Tanintharyi Region, using extensive force to hold strategic territories at all costs.
Every day, civilians continue to suffer under the junta’s indiscriminate aerial bombings, artillery shelling, and brutal ground operations.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News