Mizoram-Myanmar trade halted indefinitely after clash at Siaha border post

New Delhi ( Vivek Ojha ) : Cross-border trade between south Mizoram and Myanmar’s Rakhine and Chin states has been suspended indefinitely following a clash between Myanmar traders and volunteers of the Mara Thyutlia Py – the largest Mara youth organisation in Mizoram – at Khaikhy village in Siaha district. The suspension took effect at 7 pm on Wednesday, according to the Mara Thyutlia Py at headquarters in Siaha.

The decision followed a report submitted by the Mara Thyutlia Py’s Phura sub-headquarters on Monday’s incident near the Salalui river. The report was based on an on-the-spot assessment of the incident.

According to the report, a group of traders and transporters from Myanmar’s Rakhine state confronted Mara Thyutlia Py volunteers manning a duty post near Khaikhy after finding that only a limited quantity of goods was available for transportation across the river.

The indefinite suspension can affect supplies in parts of western Myanmar, particularly Rakhine and Chin, which have faced severe disruption to their links with the rest of the country following the 2021 military coup.

South Mizoram has emerged as an important source of essential commodities, including fuel, for communities in the neighbouring areas.