Passengers who carry a 10-line registration card must pay 10,000 Kyats to cross the Abit checkpoint, which links Mon and Kayin States and serves as a Thai-Myanmar border crossing in the Payathonzu area.
Since early August, the military junta has strengthened security at the Abit checkpoint, fully restricting travelers and residents of the Thai-Payathonzu area.
According to a driver operating between Mudon and Payathonzu, only passengers who carry a 10-line registration card are allowed to pass, and they must pay 10,000 Kyats to the checkpoint.
“If your card is a 10-line, you have to pay 10,000 kyats, and you can cross. However, you can only bring a small amount of goods, and we’ve heard that the people from the upper area are not allowed to cross. They said that only those with a 10-line registration card can cross,” he added.
At the Abit checkpoint, where military junta forces maintain security, people encounter difficulties with having to pay the fees and with inspection procedures which vary from day to day.
Passengers who are not Mon State residents face more thorough inspections, and their movement is largely dependent on the contacts they have.
A local intermediary reported that passengers heading to Payathonzu are having to use alternative routes, either by motorcycle or by foot, resulting in a noticeable decrease in the number of passengers.
“Since passengers are no longer allowed through their Abit checkpoint, the number of people going to Payathonzu has declined. Intermediaries are also charging less at the checkpoint. Previously, the fee to enter Thailand was 18,000 baht, but now they are asking only about 15,000 baht,” he said.
The Abit checkpoint, located along the Mudon–Kyainseikgyi- Payathonzu route, serves as a key passage frequently used by individuals entering Thailand illegally.
Another driver noted that the military junta has imposed restrictions on the route because, besides Mon State residents, as well as people from other regions are using it to escape to Thailand.
