CNI News

17 July 2022

The transportation of medicines, fertilizers, wires and ironwork has been prohibited by checkpoints around Pakokku, according to truck drivers in the town.

Although local authorities have not issued the prohibition order officially, checkpoints at the entrance and exit of the towns and along the highways have told truck drivers not to carry the goods.

Moreover, the transportation of rice has also been restricted, truck driver Ko Myint Zaw, who transported onions from Pauk Township to Pakokku, told the CNI.

“Transporting more than five bags of rice is not allowed. It is said that oral and injectable medicines, batteries, wires, solar panels and generators are prohibited,” he told the CNI.

However, medicines are allowed to be transported together with doctors, he explained.

Goods are being inspected at a checkpoint at the entrance to Pakokku.

As restricted goods were not announced officially, truck drivers faced difficulty and refused to transport some goods.

Some truck drivers who carried restricted goods were sometimes punished by authorities at checkpoints, according to truck driver U Nay Lin.

U Nay Lin told the CNI, “Most truck drivers are afraid of authorities at checkpoints and have stopped transporting goods. If they have to transport goods, they dare not carry restricted goods because it is dangerous for them. Some truck drivers who carried prohibited goods were punished by authorities  by forcing them to put their hands on their heads and to stay under the sum for a long time.”

When prohibited goods are found to be transporting, authorities at checkpoints seize the goods, refuse to give permissions to pass through the checkpoints or impose fines, according to truck drivers.

Transportation of such goods is prohibited in townships around Pakokku including Pauk, Monywa, Yaw, Pale, Seikphyu and Salin.