Pajau Media Channel
15th March, 2024
The local residents of Putao have informed us that the Nawng Hkai Marina situated on the Mali-Hka River in Nawng Hkai Village has been indefinitely closed by the SAC since last week.
One local from Nawng Hkai stated, “The Nawng Hkai marina has been closed for a week now, and we are unable to access it. As a result, numerous gold miners from the gold mining regions were forced to return on foot via the forest path.”
Furthermore, a skipper provided additional insights, stating, “The primary reason for the marina’s closure is an order issued by the SAC to the guarding Militia soldiers to shut it down. This action appears to be a strategic move to obstruct the route used by the KIA and PDFs in the lower section of the Mali-Hka River, thereby impeding their ability to transport food supplies. The duration of this closure remains uncertain.”
Nawng Hkai marina, situated in Machan Baw Township, serves as a significant port along the Malihka River. It functions as a prominent trading hub for the plantation region, where the local populace primarily relies on plantation work for their livelihoods.
Concurrently, this period coincides with the crucial harvest season for commercially cultivated mustard farms. Regrettably, the closure of the Nawng Hkai Marina has resulted in substantial business losses for the local residents, posing challenges to their mobility.
A local resident, unable to access their plantation due to the marina closure, expressed their concerns, stating, “This is also the time to harvest mustard farms along the Mali-Hka River, and many individuals have gone to their plantations. However, they are now facing significant difficulties.”
The residents of Nawng Hkai Village, heavily dependent on the mustard plantation business along the Malihka River, are currently unable to reach their farms due to the port closure. Additionally, some individuals who managed to reach their farms are now stranded and unable to return.
As per local residents’ accounts, despite the presence of SAC and Local Militia forces encamped in N-Hka Ga Village, Machan Baw Township, situated along the lower reaches of the Mali-Hka River, a joint offensive by KIA/KPDF forces resulted in the successful capture of their camp on December 18th of last year.
Local analysis suggests that the SAC’s decision to close the marina may be linked to intelligence indicating the operational presence of KIA/KPDF joint forces in the vicinity.
News- Malihku
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