Myanmar Spring Chronicle – March 12 Overview
MoeMaKa, March 13, 2025
Prolonged Trade Blockades Deepen Public Hardship
As domestic trade blockades persist for an extended period, the suffering of the people continues to intensify. The ongoing armed conflicts within the country involve not only direct confrontations between armed groups but also restrictions on transporting food, medicine, and essential goods to areas controlled by opposing factions. These blockades and cutoffs do not only affect the armed groups but also severely impact the local civilian populations residing in those areas.
The armed groups are aware that these restrictions cause harm to civilians. However, in some cases, these actions are justified by claims that local civilians support and assist rival armed groups. In other instances, such blockades and pressure tactics aim to force civilian populations to relocate away from contested areas controlled by opposing armed factions.
A History of Blockades in Myanmar’s Internal Conflicts
The practice of restricting the transportation of food, medicine, and essential supplies has been a long-standing strategy in Myanmar, used throughout decades of internal conflict. During the military regimes of the BSPP, SLORC, and SPDC, similar blockades were imposed in conflict zones such as Karen, Kachin, and Shan states, where territories were labeled as “enemy zones,” “black zones,” or “brown zones.” During those times, the policy was commonly referred to as “Four Cuts,” aiming to sever access to food, funds, intelligence, and recruits for resistance groups.
Following the 2021 military coup, as armed resistance intensified and territorial battles escalated, the military council systematically blocked trade routes to areas controlled by resistance forces. This was not only to cut off food and supplies but also to make military operations against them more difficult. The regime has gone beyond merely intercepting supply lines; it has also imposed widespread economic blockades on entire regions under resistance influence, a move unprecedented in recent history.
The Case of Rakhine State – A Humanitarian Crisis
One of the most severe examples of these tactics has been seen in Rakhine State, where clashes between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military resumed in November 2023. The military has nearly completely blocked land routes for transporting goods, while even river transport to military-controlled towns like Sittwe is subjected to severe scrutiny and restrictions.
As a result, the people of Rakhine State are experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis, as widely reported in the news. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and local residents suffer from outbreaks of skin diseases, medicine shortages, overcrowded living conditions, and severe malnutrition, which have exacerbated the spread of infectious diseases.
In Sittwe, the capital under military control, the remaining population comprises military personnel, police officers, government staff, and their families, along with civilians unable to flee due to financial constraints. These individuals are now trapped, bracing for the dangers of potential urban battles.
Meanwhile, in areas liberated from military control, shortages of fuel, food, and essential supplies persist, with skyrocketing prices worsening the crisis. In the northern part of Rakhine, some supplies are smuggled in through India via mountainous and riverine routes, but transportation costs are significantly higher than normal.
Widespread Impact of Trade Blockades Across the Country
Although Rakhine State is experiencing one of the worst crises, similar blockades and excessive taxation on goods are also affecting other parts of Myanmar. In Kachin State, Sagaing Region, northern Shan State, and Kayah (Karenni) State, essential commodities such as fuel, rice, oil, and medicine are being sold at inflated prices due to supply restrictions.
Most of these blockades are imposed by the military council, but some also stem from external political pressure, cross-border law enforcement actions, or even resistance forces blocking access to villages suspected of supporting the military regime. For example, in the upper regions of Magway, particularly in Gangaw Township, resistance groups have reportedly cut off supply routes to villages identified as “Pyusawhti” (pro-military militia villages).
Prolonged Conflict Deepens Economic Hardships
As the armed conflict drags on longer than expected, civilians are struggling to survive, unable to engage in regular livelihoods. Many have exhausted their financial resources while fleeing the violence, leaving them in increasingly desperate conditions. Even when people wish to help each other, the widespread scarcity of resources makes it nearly impossible to provide support.
This situation reflects the deepening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where war, economic blockades, and displacement continue to take a severe toll on the civilian population.