NarinjaraNews, March 18,2023

A maritime checkpoint operated by the Military Council inPaletwa Township Chin State, hasimposed restrictions on the transportation of civilian medicine and food,resultingin significant difficulties for approximately 40 tribal villages in thesurrounding areas.

The Military Council forces, currently stationed on a hillnear Tarunaing (Ywarthit) villagein Paletwa, have established a maritime checkpoint along the banks of the Kaladan River. They are conductinginspections of civilian boats engaged in trading to Kyauktaw township, and extorting money from the traders,locals said.

“Various ethnic groups including Khumi, Chin and Rakhine residein this region. Transportation ofessential items such as medicine and food from Kyauktaw to Paletwa is part of their daily survival.

However their movement is hindered by militarycheckpoints.The soldiers stationed nearTarunaing not only restrict the transportation of these items, but alsofrequently demand money from the travelers,creating a dilemma for the locals”, a local Chin man told Narinjara.

As a result of the haraasment from military checkpoints,approximately 40 tribal villagessuch as Chinlat Wa, Myeik Wa, Oat Thalin, Sayti Kaing, Sin Oh Wa, and Doe Chaung Wa, from village tracts of OatThalin Chaung, Kalat Chaung, and Chinlat Chaungin the upper reaches of the Kaladan River, starting from Tarunaing, are experiencing serious hardship.

These villages are primarily inhabited by the Khumi, Rankine and Chin , as well as some minority tribes.

During the construction to fortify the military base inTarunaing, the Military Council troopsdemanded money, bricks, sand, stones, and wood from the locals by force.

A boat owner,who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that although the troops no longer make such requests, theyfrequently impose fees of up to 500,000 kyat for commercial boats to pass by.

“When cargo boats arrive from Kyauktaw in Rakhine state, they usually demand500,000 kyat for each passage. Ifyou pay the requested amount, they grant you permission to pass without any further issues.  Howeverboats that refuse to pay may be delayed or prevented from passing through the checkpoint”, he claimed. Localscomplain that the checkpointnegatively affects the flow of trade, leading to higher costs.

The KaladanRiver waterway between Paletwa-Kyauktawwas reopened on December 3rd of last year after the fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the MilitaryCouncil ceased.

Nevertheless, the military checkpointstill stands in Tarunaing, where the soldiers

persist in extorting money from the public with variousexcuses. The lack of action takenby officials to address these illegal activities at the checkpoint is causing concern among locals, who feeldisheartened.

The Kaladan River plays a crucial role in the livelihoods ofthe residents of Paletwa, as theyrely heavily on it to import and purchase essential goods from Kyauktaw.

According to frequent users of the Kaladan waterway,approximately 200 soldiers belonging to thebattalions under the 19th Military Operational Command based in MonState are stationed on the hillnear Tarunaing village. These soldiers regularly halt boats passing by thecheckpoint and demand money from the passengers. It is estimated thataround 7 soldiers engage in this activity each day. 

Narinjara would like to reach out to the Military Councilconcerning the illegal act of extorting

money from civilians. However due to the lack of availableresources or individuals to respond, it iscurrently not feasible to make such contact.