In Dawei District of Tanintharyi Region, residents across all four townships have faced restrictions on purchasing fuel for nearly a month, imposed by the military junta. According to local sources, the limitations have led to fuel shortages and soaring prices, severely impacting local livelihoods and access to essential supplies.
Fuel vendors in Dawei town have reportedly been instructed by junta authorities not to sell fuel by the gallon, while retailers in rural areas have been ordered to cease fuel distribution altogether. As a result, fuel is now only sold directly into vehicle tanks, forcing villagers to buy it at inflated prices — up to 6,000 kyats per liter — and transport it back to their communities by makeshift methods.
“You can’t buy with fuel containers anymore. Only direct refills into motorbikes and vehicles are allowed. In the villages, people fill up their bikes or cars in town, then siphon the fuel for later use. Some rural areas now pay up to 7,000 kyats per liter,” said a resident from Launglon.
Although there has been no major fighting in the area, human rights activists report that since late April, military authorities have been seizing transported fuel, rice bags, and dry goods. Those caught are fined or arrested, exacerbating fear among traders and residents.
Farmers, in particular, are worried as the monsoon paddy planting season approaches. Due to high costs and fuel shortages, many are uncertain whether they will be able to cultivate their fields. “They’re trying to pressure the public with these fuel restrictions. This has happened before, but only for a week or so. Now it’s been a month, and just as planting season is beginning, farmers can’t access the fuel they need,” another Launglon resident said.
The restrictions have also disrupted supply chains and transport businesses. Operators are forced to travel all the way to town for fuel, further increasing costs. Relief workers say that the fuel shortage is also hindering humanitarian efforts to assist displaced civilians in conflict-affected areas.
On April 30, junta forces seized more than 300 gallons of petrol and 150 gallons of diesel in Dawei Township, though no official announcement has been made regarding the crackdown.
Local observers note that such fuel restrictions typically coincide with heightened military activity around Dawei, and are seen as a tactic by the junta to tighten control over civilians, particularly when it faces growing pressure from resistance forces.
