Myanmar's military regime has implemented new travel regulations for residents of Rakhine State and Tanintharyi Region, mandating the acquisition of permission letters from local authorities prior to air travel to major cities such as Yangon and Mandalay.

According to a recent notice issued by the junta’s Transport and Communications Ministry to airlines, individuals are prohibited from flying out of Tanintharyi and Rakhine unless authorized by the junta-controlled general administration departments in their respective areas.

Residents of Rakhine State must obtain permission certificates from district administrators to travel to Yangon, with restrictions limiting such travel to healthcare or educational purposes. Civil servants in Rakhine State are also required to seek approval from their departments before flying to Yangon.

An internal memo from Myanmar Airways International, dated Feb. 11, states that individuals who lack approval from general administration departments will be denied boarding.

Additionally, a blockade was imposed on Rakhine State following an offensive by the Arakan Army against the military regime in mid-November last year. These air travel restrictions coincide with the activation of the conscription law on Feb. 10.

A letter signed by Lieutenant Colonel Myo Min Khaing, a member of the administrative body of Myeik District in Tanintharyi Region, instructs travel agents not to sell tickets for flights to major cities unless travelers possess permission letters from their ward or village administrators.

Individuals purchasing tickets online must present a permission letter at the airport. Despite these measures, uncertainties remain regarding the necessity of permission letters for travel between certain destinations.

Responding to these new regulations, a business owner in Tanintharyi Region expressed frustration, describing the process of obtaining permission letters as a hassle and questioning the rationale behind the regime's decision.

BOB Post