Junta authorities have started preventing young men from leaving the southern Myanmar town of Kawthaung to travel to neighbouring Thailand, according to local residents.
This restriction, which applies to men aged 18 to 35, went into effect on Monday, locals told Myanmar Now.
Kawthaung is Myanmar’s southernmost town, and is located in Tanintharyi Region opposite the Thai town of Ranong. Traffic between the two towns, across the Kraburi (Pak Chan) River, is usually heavy, as many locals work in Ranong or do business there.
“The shore is completely quiet now. Usually, we see between 400 and 500 people crossing the border daily. But now that young people can’t leave, both the locals and the traders are out of work,” said a local resident.
Many Kawthaung residents have blue border passes valid for two years, allowing them to travel to and from Thailand. Non-residents receive green border passes. . .
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