The Military Council Conducts Inspections to Disturb Travelers on Bhamo – Myitkyina Road

Pajau Media Channel

5th February, 2024

A traveler woman said that when the SAC inspects the travelers’ buses running from Bhamo to Myitkyina, they are asking questions to the travelers, enough to disturb the civilians.

“I went from Myitkyina to Bhamo. There were many checkpoints to pass through along the journey. At some checkpoints, I had to hold my NRC and walk down the road. When I got to the army checkpoint, they asked me if I was married or single. They don’t even have reason to ask like that, if they check it as a matter of responsibility. Asking that kind of question is very disturbing to me, and since I am a woman, I feel unsafe travelling.

They asked the passenger next to me if he was a civil servant. There was already an occupation title in the registrations, so there was no reason to ask about the occupation. I used to travel on this road trip often, and I have never experienced anything like this before. I was very startled,” said a 25-year-old girl.

She added that she is worried to travel next time because there is no phone signal on the way from Bhamo to Myitkyina, so it is not easy to contact for help if something happens.

“I often commute from Bhamo to Myitkyina for work. I usually travel by plane, but yesterday I couldn’t buy a plane ticket, so I returned by car. There are about 8 armed groups along the way, and there are about 5 places that I have to walk down the road. When I passed the military checkpoint, they asked me what race I was. It’s not good that the travelers are being treated badly,” said a 73-year-old man.

Bhamo- Myitkyina road was closed in August 2023 for over 2 months, and since the time that transit was allowed, the inspections on the road have become stricter.

News - Kachin Pyi Thar