17 arrested in Myanmar for selling fuel to areas held by anti-junta forces

Myanmar’s military regime has arrested 17 people for allegedly selling fuel to areas under the control of anti-junta forces, state media reported on Friday. According to the reports, the arrests follow a series of raids carried out late last week on illegal fuel storage facilities near the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing. Twenty-two fuel trucks and over 60,000 gallons of fuel were also seized, the reports added. Under Section 5 of the Important Goods and Services Act, the suspects face up to three years in prison if found guilty of violating restrictions imposed on areas held by groups opposed to the junta’s rule. The restrictions apply to parts of Sagaing and Mandalay regions, most of Kachin State except the capital Myitkyina, and all of northern Shan State apart from the three regime-controlled towns of Muse, Mongyai and Tangyan. According to the state media reports, the fuel was being transported to resource-rich areas captured by the Kachin Independence Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, the People’s Defence Force, and other groups. A resident of the city of Sagaing, located across the Ayeyarwady River from Mandalay, told Myanmar Now that the raids were carried out by members of Military Security Affairs, the junta’s military intelligence branch. He added that key figures involved in the sale of contraband fuel supplies were not targeted, while those arrested were engaged in licensed trade. “There are many people involved in fuel trading in Sagaing, including the junta’s administrative staff. Police and military personnel are also involved in transporting and selling,” the man said, noting that the regime’s restrictions have fostered a thriving underground trade in fuel and other essential supplies. “But they let those people go free and took fuel from licensed fuel storage tanks and seized vehicles that were just parked nearby,” he added.

17 arrested in Myanmar for selling fuel to areas held by anti-junta forces

The seized fuel was allegedly destined for resource-rich areas captured by armed groups opposed to the regime

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