The Myanmar junta authority has restricted the transportation of basic food items, including rice, along withhouse building materials to Maungdawtownship on the western border of Rakhine State.

The restricted food items, besides rice,include oil, salt, dry fish, paste, betel nut, onion etc. The construction  materials include roofzinc, iron, nails, cement, etc.

These items are not allowed to transport with trucks or  cars from Sittwe to Maungdaw through  AngaMaw and Maungdaw motorable road withoutpermission of Rakhine’s security & border affairs ministry as well as the concerned departments.

Many  trucks were  sent back from  the checkpoints which had no relevant certificate.

The goods trucks have to cross  Mayu river by ferry ships through Ray Chan Pyin harbor in Sittwe and  by cargo ships to Angu Mawarea of Rathedaung township.

A regular motor driver on  Sittwe-Maungdaw road informed Narinjara News  that they arebeing  checked at Angu Maw  checkpoint, Inden checkpoint and also Three-Mile checkpoint in Maungdaw township.

"We are asked for the certificates. For the fish, fish-halves, fish-paste items, they ask forcertificates from the fishery department.For the rice and construction materials, the authority want to see  certificates with the signature of Rakhine security & borderaffairs minister. In earlier days,  they didn't ask for these documents,” he added.

Another driver from Yangon-Sittwe road told Narinjara News that because of the restriction, thetruckers are finding it difficult to transportgoods from the mainland to the Rakhine region.

"Now, we only move inside Sittwe city. Without the permission, we have to drop the goods  at main citygates,” he added.

Local residents allege that because of the limited supply of items to Maungdaw, they will face a shortage of food items and other goods.

Rakhine political analyst U Pe Than told Narinjara News that if the current restriction on goods to RakhineState continues, there may a possibilityof gunfighting against the Arakan Army (AA).

"Before resuming fighting, the  junta did same inearlier occasions too. Regularinspections, checking of transported materials and over all increased vigils indicate the preparedness of the juntaforces,”
he pointed out.

Last year, prior to the rerun of battles between junta forces and AA members,  the military councilrestricted and controlled the flow of goodsto the Rakhine region, which caused hardships to the locals.

In November only, the restriction was eased after the mutual understanding between the twoarmed groups was established. Now the restrictionhas returned and also the fear of gun fighting between junta soldiers and AA members.