Residents of Kawthaung Town and the surrounding villages are facing rice shortages due to junta restrictions on rice sales.

Since 20 August 2024, the junta has restricted rice sale permits for shops in Kawthaung Town, meaning that rice is unavailable in many shops.

Due to the restriction of rice sale permits, shops are running out of rice in 11 Kawthaung Township villages: Shwepyisoe, Semaing, Kanpongyinar, Semaing, 14-Maing, 12-Maging, Tarnyonparda, 15-Maing, Bankachun, 22-Maing, and Maliwan.

A Semaing Village resident said that some families had to borrow rice from households who could spare some, just to have enough to eat.

The junta defended its restriction of rice sale permits, saying that it was needed to prevent people’s defence forces (PDF) in remote areas from getting rice.

Some shops in Kawthaung Town are managing to sell limited quantities of rice on a first-come, first-served basis. Locals allege that this rice is being made available because of cooperation between the junta and prominent cronies in Kawthaung Town.

Currently, imported rice from Thailand is also available in Kawthaung Town, but with prices exceeding 1,000  Thai baht (THB) per 22kg bag, it is unaffordable for most ordinary people.

The junta has also imposed restrictions on the transport of rice to Tanintharyi and Palaw towns in Tanintharyi Region, where martial law has been declared. It has also imposed restrictions on transporting medicines to Tanintharyi and Palaw towns.