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Military destroys roads used to bypass Monywa checkpoints

Myanmar’s military has moved to tighten security around Sagaing Region’s largest city in recent days by cutting off access from nearby villages, according to locals.

Residents of the area say that junta troops have destroyed several roads linking Monywa—where the headquarters of the military’s Northwestern Regional Command is located—to outlying villages since Monday.

On Wednesday morning, the road connecting Monywa’s industrial zone to the village of Lezin, about 7km southeast of the city, became the latest to be bulldozed, locals said.

The day before, a section of the road to Amyint, a village about 30km to the south, was also also reportedly demolished.

The push to close gaps in the perimeter of the city comes days after reports of clashes between local defence forces and junta supporters in Monywa.

“Most of the revolutionary forces here are taking part in urban guerrilla warfare, so they’re doing this to stop us from launching attacks,” said the spokesperson for a local defence group.

According to Soe Win Swe, an officer with the Monywa People’s Defence Team (Pa Ka Pha), the roads that have been closed are often used to bypass checkpoints.

“That’s probably why they’re trying to shut them down for good,” he said.

The road from Monywa to Amyint, seen after it was torn up by the military on October 4 (Supplied)

Residents say that the roads are also important for local farmers, who depend on them for access to markets.

“Most of the villagers around here bring their crops into the city, and now the military is trying to destroy the roads that we use to conduct business,” said one villager.

Some locals have even tried to repair the roads. However, one that was fixed after being torn up on Monday was destroyed again on Wednesday.

“Even after we fixed the road, they came back and demolished it again. This is just idiotic and oppressive,” said the villager, who did not want to be named.

Meanwhile, attacks on junta forces in the area continue to provoke reprisals targeting civilians.

On Tuesday, a junta convoy was ambushed with explosives near the village of Mon Yway, which was raided soon after the attack, according to residents. 

At least five houses were torched, said one villager.

“They rounded up all the men and started torching the houses of the former administrator and others associated with the ousted government,” he said.

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