The military junta’s 317th Artillery unit restricted passage via Abis Road, which connects Kyarinnseikgyi Township in Karen State and Mudon Township in Mon State. Local residents are now facing travel difficulties.
Many Mon villages in Kyarinnseikgyi rely on the Chaunghnitkhwa Road, Kale-Tagundaing Road, the Abit Road, and the Lutshan Road for importing food products and trading rubber.
In November of last year, the Chaunghnitkhwa Bridge was blown up, rendering the road impassable. The military junta also blocked the Kale-Tagundaing Road due to ongoing fighting.
Kyarinnseiggyi residents now have only the Abit and Lutshan Roads—to travel to Mudon. However these are lengthy journeys with rough conditions, particularly along Lutshan Road. Locals seldom use this option, preferring the Abit Road instead.
However, using Abit Road means that travellers must face the 317th Artillery unit of the military junta, who are stationed in Abit village. They are conducting stringent checks and permitting passage to only a limited number of vehicles.
“The issue is that the military junta has restricted passage, making it challenging for us to travel efficiently. Additionally, they conduct checks, further delaying the journey. As a result, some people choose to take an alternative route from the Hparpya side (Lutshan road side). However, that option has another drawback — the high cost of the fare,” explained a driver from Kyarinnseiggyi.
Currently, a majority of cargo trucks are using Lutshan Road, leading to a rise in the prices of local goods due to the high transportation fares.
One food store owner commented, “Currently, most goods trucks are heading towards Hparpya. With the increased distance, the fare has risen from 2,000 per bag of rice to 4,000 now. As the transportation costs went up, so did the price for food.”
Due to restricted access, the majority of Mon villages in Kyarinnseikgyi township are grappling with high prices and transportation difficulties.
Local residents believe that, in addition to the frequent fighting in Kyarinnseikgyi township, the military junta has restricted access to the area due to concerns that the PDF revolutionary forces will increase its strength.
