Suspension of Cross-Border Trade Between Mizoram and Myanmar Following Clash

Trade Halted Due to Conflict

Aizawl, Sept 17: The indefinite suspension of cross-border trade between southern Mizoram and Myanmar's Rakhine and Chin states has been announced following a confrontation between Myanmar traders and members of the Mara Thyutlia Py, the largest youth organization in Mizoram, at Khaikhy village in the Siaha district.

This trade suspension took effect at 7 PM on Wednesday, as confirmed by the Mara Thyutlia Py's headquarters in Siaha.

The decision was made after a report from the Phura sub-headquarters of Mara Thyutlia Py, detailing an incident that occurred near the Salalui river on Monday. This report was based on an immediate assessment of the situation.

According to the findings, a group of traders and transporters from Myanmar's Rakhine state confronted the Mara Thyutlia Py volunteers who were overseeing a duty post near Khaikhy. The confrontation arose when the traders discovered that only a limited amount of goods was available for transport across the river.

The Mara Thyutlia Py volunteers are responsible for regulating the flow of goods at this crossing point. The Myanmar traders, who typically transport goods purchased on the Indian side via boats, reportedly insisted on having access to a greater quantity of commodities. This led to a heated argument, escalating tensions between the two groups.

To prevent a physical altercation, the Mara Thyutlia Py volunteers vacated their post, as stated in the report. Following this, the Myanmar traders and transporters allegedly vandalized and set fire to the duty post.

Khaikhy, situated at the southern end of the Siaha district, serves as a significant hub for informal cross-border trade between southern Mizoram and Myanmar. A large volume of goods transported through this area is intended for the Rakhine and Chin states.

The trade volume is considerable, with reports indicating that over 100 pick-up trucks arrive at Khaikhy daily. More than 100 boats are then used to ferry these goods along the Salalui river to Salachhuah village in Rakhine state.

This indefinite trade suspension could disrupt supplies in parts of western Myanmar, especially in Rakhine and Chin, which have already been facing significant challenges in their connectivity with the rest of the country since the military coup in 2021.

South Mizoram has become a crucial source of essential goods, including fuel, for communities in the adjacent regions.