Junta troops are still banning the transport of humanitarian aid including shipments of medicines and fuel in western Myanmar\u2019s Rakhine state a month after a local cease-fire went into force, according to sources in the region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brokered by Japan after four months of intense fighting in the Rakhine, the cease-fire is the latest halt to hostilities between junta troops and the rebel Arakan Army, or AA, that have devastated the civilian population of the state and of Paletwa township in neighboring Chin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although roads have been reopened across Rakhine, junta forces continue to block the delivery of essential goods to residents of the state, sources in Rakhine say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe junta have reopened the Ah Ngu Maw-Maungdaw road, which they had blocked before,\u201d a resident of Rakhine\u2019s Rathedaung township told RFA, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey have reopened the Sittwe-Yangon road too, and have reopened several waterways. But for now they are still restricting the transport of some goods,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Goods barred from transport include medicines and medical equipment, fuel, diesel oil, and iron bars and cement used in construction, the source said. \u201cIt is difficult now even to transport food,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humanitarian aid sent by international organizations for refugees from eight townships in northern Rakhine is also being blocked by junta military forces, refugees told RFA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Civilian arrests continue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Junta troops also continue to arrest Rakhine civilians for suspected ties to the Arakan Army, with over 100 residents taken into custody during the last month, sources say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hla Aye San, wife of the owner of a rice mill in Kyauktaw township\u2019s Thanzin village, said her husband had been prosecuted for sedition under Section 131 of Myanmar law and had been moved to another prison after his trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI haven\u2019t heard anything about him since then,\u201d she said. \u201cWe really want all of those detained for their alleged connections to the Arakan Army to be released during this cease-fire, with some agreement reached between the two armies,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSince the cease-fire was announced on humanitarian grounds, both sides should release detained civilians, and the bans on transport should be lifted,\u201d said Pe Than, a veteran politician and former member of the Myanmar parliament\u2019s lower house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrom a political standpoint, the detainees\u2019 release could build mutual trust and lead to a long-term or even permanent cease-fire,\u201d he added. \u201cThe arrests should not continue.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018I am worried for my life\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Also speaking to RFA, a ward administrator in Rakhine\u2019s Ponnagyun township said that more than 100 village leaders have asked during the last month for permission to resign their posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe village chiefs are appointed by the junta, but they cannot protect their villages. When military forces entered the villages, we had to flee our homes,\u201d the source said, asking to remain anonymous in order to speak freely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, the rebel United League of Arakan and Arakan Army view the village leaders with suspicion because they were appointed by the junta, the ward administrator said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have now applied to resign because neither side has reconciled, and I am worried for my life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At least 45 civilians have been killed and more than 106 injured by artillery shells, bombs, landmines and other military explosives left behind after four months of recent fighting in Rakhine, according to figures compiled by RFA. Local residents now fear more may be killed if fighting resumes, sources said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Radio Free Asia –Copyright \u00a9 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"