Tatmadaw has carried out counter-terrorism operations in the areas where terrorists temporarily controlled and occupied towns and villages one after another, with the participation of the people, to restore peace and stability for the people. On 6 May, the Mandalay-Madaya-Thabeikkyin-Tagaung-Htigyaing-Katha-Indaw-Mawlu-Nantsiaung-Mohnyin-Mogaung-Myitkyina communication route was recontrolled fully, and it was reopened.

Local ethnic people suffered hardships in food and daily utensils, shortages of medicines and emergency accessories due to difficulties in commodity transport and flow when terrorists temporarily controlled the aforesaid communication route linking Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region and Kachin State. During the period, the forcible extortion of money from cargo trucks transporting goods led to rising commodity prices, shortages of raw materials for businesses, and difficulties in the production of finished goods, which further drove up prices. In addition, transportation difficulties prevented goods from reaching markets, causing local ethnic communities to face hardships in their daily socioeconomic lives.

At present, Tatmadaw columns have removed barriers from the communication route with the use of machinery, while battlefield engineering troops and officials from relevant ministries carried out repairs of the roads and bridges destroyed by terrorists to ensure smooth transportation.

Under the management of the government and Tatmadaw, departmental personnel left Mandalay on 9 May by carrying basic foodstuffs, personal goods, construction materials, medicines and medical equipment, school textbooks and fuel by truck together with vehicles of merchants and passenger buses to resume the administrative machinery of the government in towns and villages along the route, fulfill basic needs of people, distribute school textbooks and stationery to be reached before opening schools and provide healthcare services.

The departmental personnel were welcomed by residents in Htigyaing, Katha, Indaw and Mawlu in Sagaing Region. On their arrival in Myitkyina on 12 May, they were warmly welcomed by Kachin State Chief Minister U Khet Htein Nan, Northern Command Commander Maj-Gen Aung Zaw Htwe, officials and residents. Currently, passenger buses and cargo trucks provide transport services along the route as usual.

Residents reportedly expressed their happiness that, with the reopening of the Mandalay-Myitkyina route, travel, daily living, and trade activities would return to normal and become more convenient, while socioeconomic conditions would gradually recover and develop again. They also said they were pleased that they would once again be able to enjoy the benefits of peace and stability, and that healthcare services as well as educational opportunities for students and youth would be restored. In addition, they stated that they would cooperate with the State government and Tatmadaw in carrying out rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts for towns and villages that had suffered destruction and losses in various sectors due to terrorist acts.

The entire public strongly despises and condemns the terrorists who destroyed towns, villages, roads, and bridges and oppressed civilians. The people are also said to stand united with the State and Tatmadaw in carrying out reconstruction and rehabilitation works in towns and villages across the country for national development and progress.

MNA/TTA

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