CNI News
29 July 2022
As checkpoints have tightened security control on transportation of goods from the mainland including Yangon to Rakhine State, the commodity flow slowed down and truck drivers had to wait for a long time to pass through checkpoints, resulting in rising prices of goods in Rakhine State, according to local residents in Rakhine State.
Security was tightened at the checkpoint Ann Township at the entrance to Rakhine State and trucks had to wait three day to one week to pass through the checkpoint. As a result, goods were delayed and prices rose, U Aung Kyaw Mya, a local resident, told the CNI.
“As inspections are carried out thoroughly for goods transported from the mainland to Rakhine State at the checkpoint in Ann, one of the entrances to the state, goods have been delayed. So, prices have risen when the goods were delivered to us. All goods can be transported with the permission of the regional Ministry of Border Affairs and Security. It is very difficult to get permission. Even when the permission has been received, the inspected goods very thoroughly. So, goods are delayed unnecessarily,” he explained.
Some goods were in shortages frequently due to delays, according to local residents.
Moreover, goods that were transported via waterway due to road restrictions were also delayed, an official at Lay Wadi Construction Materials Shop in Kyauktaw told the CNI.
Freight trucks and passengers being inspected at a checkpoint in Rakhine State.
“Currently, we are transporting our goods via waterway from Yangon to Sittwe and again use road transportation here. So, commodity flow is again delayed due to various difficulties. Inspection is tightened everywhere. In the past, about 50 trucks operated along the Asia Highway but there are only ten trucks on the highway. We can’t understand why the trucks were delayed,” she said.
Furthermore, NRC cards are also being checked in townships in Rakhine State and even travel from one township to another is controlled tightly.
Transportation of goods, fertilizers, cement and some items were restricted in the past, but electric equipment and medicine are also permitted to be carried with the permission of the regional border affairs and security ministers currently, Ko Moe Oo of Shwe Pyi Thit Passengers and Goods Transport told the CNI.
“Roads are in very bad conditions and vehicles have to face difficulties. And they are closed at 6 pm. It takes two to three days to travel a trip that took only one day previously. As there are checkpoints, commodities are in short supply. Truck drivers cannot transport refrigerators, wires and medicines without the permission of the regional ministry of border affairs and security. Without the permissions, trucks had to stop at checkpoints for a long time and were allowed to continue when some money was given to them,” a local resident said.
As the control of goods was tightened in Rakhine State and transportation was delayed, some goods were damaged and local farmers suffered losses.
In addition, travels between the northern and southern parts of Maungdaw Township, commodity flow in the northern part was disrupted and some commodities are in shortages, according to local residents.
