NarinjaraNews, 14 September 2022

Myanmarmilitary council has been using three coastal ships, donated by Japan tofacilitate the travel of Arakanese (Rakhine) people, for military purposes.

After theState military council stopped the service for the Arakanese people statingthat it cannot afford the cost of fuel, those ships named Kissapanadi number 1,2 and 3 are now being used to transport soldiers.

A localresident informed that the soldiers were fully armed and ready to leave ShweMin Gan Pier for Maungdaw.

"The army authority has been preparing since yesterday.Now three ships have left in the morning hours. Nearly 500 soldiers along withweapons and food items left for Maungdaw," he added.

The shipshave already arrived at Maungdaw Kanying Chaung port.

These Kissapanadiships were donated by the people of Japan after Aung Takkhon (3) mishap ofsinking took place on 13 March 2015, where over hundreds of passengers died.

Those shipsreached Arakan State from 2017 to 2019.

A Sittwe resident alleges that the ships were donated by aforeign country for the benefit of Arakanese people, but those are now being used for differentpurposes.

"It is not acceptable to both Rakhine people and the international community.We oppose the use of civilian ships for military purposes,” he added.

Initially those ships used to ply between Sittwe and twotowns namely Maebon and Kyaukphyu. Later the service was stopped by theauthorities.