August 31st, 2023
In Karen State, drivers reported that because the Military Council only allowed a limited number of vehicles on the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia Road, roadblocks were occurring and goods on the vehicles were being spoiled and damaged.
On the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia Road, due to the collapse of the road near Taw Naw Waterfall, a Bailey bridge has been built and the bridge on the landslide is not strong enough causing traffic jams.
Hundreds of trucks have been stuck on the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia Road for more than 3 days now, and a motorist said that there is damage to the foodstuff due to the roadblock.
“Now, trucks have been stuck on the side of Kawkareik for about 3 days and as a result, some of the vegetables are spoiled and damaged. When coming back from Myawaddy, there were damaged goods. The main export from below to Myawaddy is Corn and now giving them first,” said a driver.
A local said that the road blockage was caused by allowing the first trucks carrying corn kernels to be exported to Thailand.
“Exporting corn kernels to Thailand will close from tomorrow. Buying corn kernels from Mandalay and Taunggyi side exports to Thailand, and corn is traded according to its season. The passenger vehicles coming back from Myawaddy are getting stuck because the corn trucks have to pass first not to block the road,” he said.
Due to the closure of the road, vehicles leaving Myawaddy at around 6 A.M. do not arrive at Kawkareik until nightfall and have to spend the night on the road, moreover, there is a need to still be afraid of fighting.
“They allowed 40 cars at once. The cars that left Myawaddy around 6 a.m. did not arrive at Kawkareik and were still on the mountain so the travel had no headway. I’m still afraid of battles and then It’s not convenient,” said a driver.
In addition, because the Military Council closed the town’s entrances and exits at 6:00 p.m. and thus drivers and tourists from vehicles stuck on the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia road are having difficulty in eating, according to drivers.
News – Ko Phyo
Photo: CJ
Phar Si Than (People’s Radio Myanmar)
