Junta permits free flow of alcoholic drinks yet strictly bans essential medicine and consumer goods

Narinjara News, December 10, 2022

In spite of the Military Council’s informal ceasefire with the Arakan Army (AA) , it continues to strictly ban the importation of medicines and building materials including cement, which are essential for local people.

Locals say that the junta permits alcoholic imports with almost no regulation, but still prohibits so many essential goods in Rakhine state.

A social activist from Sittwe said “The checkpoint in Ann township allows vehicles carrying liquor to pass through immediately. No other proper documents are required for these vehicles. But medicines that are very necessary for the rest of the people, are not allowed to be imported. In the case of building materials, they are only allowed to be imported with a certificate of approval from the Ministry of Border Affairs”.

The Military Council has strictly banned the importation of medicines to Rakhine State for almost three months now, and the prices of drugs have been rising exorbitantly. The Military Council has not yet lifted the embargo, even though it is known that the shortage of medicines in the region is becoming very serious.

Not only booze produced by the military-run industries, but also similar products imported from abroad are delivered into Rakhine state on an average of 20 trucks per week. A driver said that a car usually carries between 200 and 300 cardboard boxes.

“At least 20 cars arrive every week. If AA wants to ban them, they can only regulate the local businessmen. Military checkpoints allow vehicles carrying liquors and beers to pass freely. So dealers and shop owners should be strictly regulated. If you illegally import certain things without documents, you have to pay bribe money at military checkpoints. Soldiers are almost always drunk at these checkpoints. The State Administration Council (the Military Council) used to talk about peace, while the soldiers under their command are acting disorganized and destroying the country”, he said.

The boycott of all products produced by the military -owned enterprises in the central regions where the majority Bamar population live has resulted in greater effort to push their products to Rakhine according to Ko Oo Than Naing, the information officer of the Rakhine State Students Union said.

He argued that " They are more focused and looking for business in Rakhine State because their military products have been boycotted in the central regions."

A political analyst in Rakhine pointed out that the Military Council may have two purposes regarding the massive importation of alcoholic beverages to Rakhine State.

“They may have two main purposes. Importing military-manufactured earning income while sales in the central regions have fallen, is a commercial objective. The second objective, which is also a policy of the Military Council, is to spread demoralisation among the Rakhine public”, he said.

He said that if you look at the fact that the importation of drugs, which the people of Rakhine desperately need is blocked, but the importation of alcohol is allowed without any hindrance, the intentions of the Military Council can be seen to be dishonest. 

After reaching an informal ceasefire agreement with the AA on November 26, the Military Council reopened some roads and waterways previously under blockades, but continued to ban the importation of medicines and building materials.

“ Businesses using the express highway are no longer accepting medicines. If the medicines are found during checks, they face difficulties and obstructions at checkpoints. There are too many checks along the road. There are other ways to transport medicine. But liquid medicines are not easy to transport and there is an acute shortage of syrups.” explained the owner of a pharmacy ho did not want to be named.

U Aye Tun (aka) Tun Min Naing, the joint secretary of United League of Arakan (ULA) also warned through his social network account to avoid buying and consuming alcohol produced by the Military-owned enterprises, because those actions are encouraging and supporting the military indirectly.

However booze manufactured by the military -owned enterprises are still widely consumed in Rakhine state, and locals say restaurants are doing a brisk trade in selling alcoholic drinks.