Irrawaddy-Oct 28
Some areas of Myanmar are running out of food, medicine and consumer goods due to China’s ban on exports to the country following a rise of fighting along its border in Kachin State and northern Shan State, and the junta’s crackdown on “illegally imported” goods from neighboring China and Thailand. The cash-strapped regime imposed restrictions on import and export permits to reduce the need to spend foreign currency. Recently, it also launched a crackdown on goods imported across land borders, claiming that the illegal trade was financing resistance groups. Meanwhile, the government of Yunnan province suspended the export of foodstuffs, household goods, electronics, engines, solar panels, and building materials across its border to Myanmar on October 22. Myanmar relies heavily on neighboring Thailand and China for a wide variety of essential goods, ranging from food to fertilizer. Shortages of consumer staples, like cooking oil, coffee, instant noodles, toothpaste and soap, have been reported. To pressure the ethnic armies fighting the regime, China has closed border crossings with rebel-controlled Laiza, Maijayang, Kanpiketi and Pangwa towns in Kachin State, as well as other border crossings in northern Shan State. Northern Shan State has reportedly run out of medicine. A merchant in Muse said: “China has been imposing tighter restrictions. At first, it banned the export of medicine, and now it bans [exports of] foodstuffs, electronics and consumer staples. Border areas relying on China are in trouble. Northern Shan State has run out of medicine and fuel supplies are dwindling.” Fuel prices have shot up in border towns with filling stations imposing a quota, according to residents of Shan State’s Hopan town. Read more at:
