Junta controls and limits transport and sale of rice in Tenasserim

November 7, 2023

HURFOM: The military junta has been controlling and limiting the transportation and sale of rice in Tenasserim Township, Tenasserim Division which greatly impacts the lives of local people. The military junta also stops and arrests drivers of vehicles and trucks carrying rice bags.

Since September, 2023, the military junta has been stopping t vehicles carrying rice bags and extorting money from the drivers. The junta accuses those transporting rice of supporting the People’s Defense Forces and is subjecting them to severe interrogation.

“Most villages have limitations on rice transportation. So there has been a limitation of the sale also. The junta’s check-point does not allow the carrying of more than one bag of rice,” said a local man.

Local residents reported to HURFOM that the Baw Di Lan Check-point and the 561st Light Infantry Battalion based at the Nyaung Pin Kwin village check-point stop and arrest drivers of trucks carrying rice bags.

“The truck drivers have seen with their naked eyes that there has been a rice crisis in the area so they want to help the locals, but they are arrested by the junta,” said a villager from Nyaung Pin Kwin village tract.

In September, 2023, junta’s forces at check-points arrested drivers of at least seven trucks. They released the drivers and the vehicles but seized the rice bags.

Residents in Tenasserim Township have to pay 4,300 MMK for 2.5 liters of low-quality rice.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News