Difficulties of Travelers on the Myitkyina and Sagaing Road

Pajau Media

August 28, 2025

The current situation of people traveling from Kachin State to Sagaing Region was described as follows by four drivers.

Driver (1):"When we go into Sagaing Region, KIA (Kachin Independence Army) occasionally collects funds. Since it is collected in a surprise manner, even if we try to avoid it, if we happen to be on the road at the time they collect, we will be caught anyway.

On July 5th, around 11 a.m., between Mawlu and Indaw, a 17 year old Kachin girl from Waimaw was taken away by force. When clashes between both armed sides intensified, we ourselves have witnessed civilians being used as human shields. Once while they were fighting the enemy, the KPDF fighters rested their gun on my arm as I held the steering wheel and fired over it. A bullet shell even dropped right between my legs, I was lucky to come out alive."

Driver (2):"When we travel into Kachin State, the SAC (junta) checkpoints stop and interrogate us, sometimes even beating us. They demand a fine of around 30,000 kyats. They inspect call logs and photos on our phones, and if they suspect something, they arrest people. At Nan Si Awng checkpoint, Pin Baw checkpoint, Hpakant Town Hospital checkpoint, and the 21 Mile checkpoint, they type the National Registration Card numbers into a tablet for checking. If the number is already marked as part of the CDM (Civil Disobedience Movement), they immediately arrest the person. At Nan Si Awng checkpoint, a man was pulled off the car after his card number revealed records of previous cases."

Driver (3):"On the Sagaing–Watlet road, at the 14 Mile junction near Taung Yin village, passenger vehicles were trapped due to ongoing clashes. On August 4, an SAC military aircraft dropped bombs there, killing 16 passengers. A 23-year-old driver from Hopin Town, Mohnyin District, also died. He left behind a three year old child as he was married. It was us, the drivers, who had to bury the dead victims, only informing the families afterwards. In fact, the road at Taung Yin village has been blocked since August 2, it’s nearly been a month now. Since SAC aircraft have been directly targeting fuel trucks with bomb strikes, we are extremely afraid whenever fuel trucks are on the road."

Driver (4):"On the Myitkyina-Mohnyin road, at Namma Nam Hkam village, clashes broke out between the SAC and the KPDF. Then, SAC’s Namma artillery unit shelled heavily for two consecutive days, injuring five civilians. In Nansalaw village, a schoolteacher named Ma Hnin Wutt Yi Htun, who had joined CDM, could not be found, and so the troops torched her house burning it completely down. Because of indiscriminate artillery fire from the SAC, the entire Nansalaw village has had to flee as conflict displaced. At the entrance of Nansalaw, junta forces from Infantry Battalion 33 are stationed inside villagers’ homes, interrogating residents, making it impossible for locals to cross the checkpoint to Namma. Even going to hospitals and clinics has become nearly impossible."

Currently in Bhamaw, Hpakant, and Waimaw areas of Kachin State, heavy clashes continue between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the junta troops, with the junta using not only heavy artillery but also military aircraft and drone bombs for intense attacks.

Similarly, in the Hpakant area, indiscriminate shelling from junta positions at Hpakant strategic hill continues daily into civilian populated areas, causing repeated civilian casualties.

News-Kachin Pyitar