Rangoon bans rice shipments to Arakan and Tenasserim

Thursday, 05 August 2010 23:16 Myo Thein

Rangoon (Mizzima) – Authorities have banned rice shipments to Arakan State in Burma’s west and Tenasserim Division in the country’s south from the beginning of this month, a transport association told Mizzima today.

Observers speculate the government may be expecting shortages in the near future.

A shippers’ association sent an official letter to truck weighing stations near the Bayintnaung Wholesale Market, ordering a halt on rice consignments to Arakan State and Tenasserim Division, an association member said.

He added that the Rangoon Division Peace and Development Council had issued the order, which had contained little else other than the directive.

According to a source at the Ministry of Commerce, the order said: “From Rangoon, distributing rice to Arakan State and Tanintharyi [Tenasserim] Division is not allowed. However, rice can be freely distributed to other states and divisions.”

Burma Rice Wholesalers’ Association confirmed knowledge of the ban but refused to disclose why the order had been imposed and from which authority it had originated.

“Trucks that haul rice to other states and divisions have copied the order because they may need to prove they are allowed to carry rice to those regions,” a weigh station worker said. “Trucks headed to Myawaddy [on the Thai border] have shown copies of the order at this toll booth and their toll charges were reduced.”