Myitkyina-Tanai Road: Travelers Face Difficulties Due to Ongoing Clashes

Due to ongoing military tensions between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) joint forces and the junta backup Min Zayar Thant People’s Forces group along the Myitkyina-Tanai Road in Kachin State, civilian travelers are experiencing transportation difficulties.

Fighting between the two armed groups has been intense since March 14 along the Myitkyina-Tanai Road and remains tense up to now, a checkpoint officer in Myitkyina.

“It’s not the entire road, but caution is needed especially between Lawar Village and Warazup. Drivers are coordinating with each other and monitoring the situation. If the situation is bad, they have to sleep wherever they reach. It’s no longer guaranteed that if you leave today, you’ll arrive the same day,” he said.

Travelers have also expressed that the road difficulties are causing significant inconvenience, especially during emergencies that require overnight travel.

Additionally, in recent days, the Min Zayar Thant People’s Force, operating under the military junta, has been active along the Myitkyina-Tanai Road and in the surrounding villages of Naung Mee, Warazup, and Lawar. There have been occasional artillery shellings and strict inspections of travelers, according to reports.

On May 2, fighting broke out between the Min Zayar Thant group and KIA joint forces in Lawar Village, leading to temporary road closures, according to a local man.

“When battles like the other day happen, road closures occur. If that happens, travel becomes impossible, and people must wait until the road reopens,” he said.

During these clashes and roadblocks, passengers have had to spend the night in nearby villages such as Nammati, Lawar Nam Phyat, and Ban Kaw.

The current military tension stems from a March 14 attack by the Min Zayar Thant forces on a KIA joint-force checkpoint stationed in Lawar Village along the Myitkyina-Tanai road.