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TANINTHARYI DIVISION – Locals reported that it has been four days since the junta council has blocked entry through the checkpoint at Mhawkyaung Village in Palaw Township.
Said checkpoint is a gate connecting villages on the road from Lakku Village to Palaw Town and has reportedly been blocked since July 20.
“Only students are allowed to pass. That gate has set many restrictions before, like not allowing to pass commodities or fuel,” said a resident.
The checkpoint is used by people from the villages of Mhawkyaung, Lakku and Myadaun to go to Palaw Town for health and social reasons and the people currently have to use the much farther route due to the blockade.
Moreover, the junta council has not made announcements on when the gate will be reopened.
Residents reported seeing junta troops setting up heavy artillery at the school in Mhawkyaung Village and transporting ammunition on the day the gate was first blocked.
A member of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) shared that the ammunition were transported from Myeik via the waterways and then to the village by car, adding that the junta might “increase the military operations”.
A battle broke out in Palaw on Sunday (July 23) afternoon and all entrances to the town were said to be blocked for over two hours during the duration of the battle.
There are at least seven checkpoints on the highway in Palaw Township and the junta council would close off all checkpoints once there is fighting or PDF activity in the township.
Palaw Township, declared martial law by the junta regime, is a township where frequent fighting occurs.