The road connecting Ponna Kyun with Rathedaung remains closed since 16 June making it difficult for the locals to travel.

Due to the road closure, the people start avoiding the vehicles and using the dangerous waterway from Rathedaung to Sittwe even in the rainy days.

The road was closed by the military council after the Arakan Army (AA) arrested a soldier in Ponna Kyun on 16 June.

A resident of Rathedaung, who wanted anonymity, said that soon after the soldier was captured by the AA members, it was believed that the junta forces would target the AA. But they closed the busy road without considering the public convenience.

A bus driver from Ponna Kyun said that there  are many such kinds of problems. It becomes difficult to survive as the road is closed now. Meanwhile, the price of essential commodities in Rathedaung locality is soaring due to the use of waterways. Now one liter of octane fuel

costs around kyats 3,200, revealed the locals.

Myat Tun, director of the Rakhine Human Rights Defenders Group, said that while every government in the world has been working for public welfare, the junta is doing the opposite and simply oppressing  the common people in various ways.