Narinjara News, December 10, 2022

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

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

A social activist from Sittwe said “The checkpoint inAnn township allows vehicles carrying liquor to pass through immediately. No other proper documents are requiredfor these vehicles. But medicines that are very necessary for the rest of the people, are notallowed to be imported. In the case of building materials, theyare only allowed to be imported with a certificate of approval from the Ministry of Border Affairs”.

The Military Council has strictly banned theimportation of medicines to Rakhine State for almost three months now, and theprices of drugs have been rising exorbitantly. The Military Council has notyet lifted the embargo, even though it is known that the shortage of medicinesin 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 stateon an average of 20 trucks per week. A driver said that a car usuallycarries between 200 and 300 cardboard boxes.

“At least 20 cars arrive every week. If AA wants to banthem, they can only regulate the local businessmen. Military checkpoints allowvehicles 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 thesecheckpoints. The State Administration Council (the Military Council) used totalk about peace, while the soldiers under their command are actingdisorganized 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 populationlive has resulted in greater effort to push their products to Rakhine according to Ko Oo Than Naing, the informationofficer of the Rakhine State Students Union said.

He argued that " They are more focused andlooking for business in Rakhine State because their military products have been boycotted in thecentral regions."

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

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

He said that if you look at the fact that theimportation 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 bedishonest. 

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

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

U Aye Tun (aka) Tun Min Naing, the joint secretary ofUnited League of Arakan (ULA) also warned through his social network account toavoid 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 -ownedenterprises are still widely consumed in Rakhine state, and locals sayrestaurants are doing a brisk trade in selling alcoholic drinks.