The border trading post of Payathonzu (Three Pagodas Pass) town on the Thailand-Myanmar border has been temporarily closed by the armed organizations on the Myanmar side, and the passage of cargo container vehicles has been prohibited. Thai authorities have adopted similar restrictions.
This ban has been in effect since the morning of June 17, causing difficulties for traders conducting import and export business with Thailand, who have warned of potential shortages of goods and rising prices.
Lorry drivers have also suspended their operations due to the lack of an announced date for the reopening of the trading post.
"Both import and export trips with Thailand are currently blocked. Despite large trucks being prohibited from passing through the trading post, individuals are permitted to cross carrying small amounts of goods. For now, we have to halt operations”, a lorry driver said.
During the current rainy season, the traffic challenges for large trucks on the Myawaddy town side have worsened, leading to an increased reliance on Payathonzu by traders.
Some local armed organizations view certain trading activities through Payathonzu as non-compliant with existing laws and restrict them, leading some individuals to resort to illegal channels for trade.
"The Myawaddy route became infeasible, so we turned to Payathonzu, but everyone is struggling with these restrictions. Now, we can only trade small amounts of goods that can be carried by human strength”, a local motorist reported.
Payathonzu trading post is not officially recognized as a border crossing between the two countries but operates based on informal agreements with Thai authorities for importing and exporting goods.
Traders reported that rice, onions, and fish are exported from the Myanmar side, while cosmetics, construction materials, and food products are imported from the Thai side via Payathonzu.
The Tachileik-Mae Sai, Myawaddy-Mae Sot, and Kawthaung-Ranong border trading posts, critical for Thailand-Myanmar trade, are currently disrupted by clashes or traffic difficulties, causing delays in the flow of goods
