Burmese Cargo Boats Stop Entering Bangladesh Due to Naval Patrols

http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=2065

2/11/2009

Teknaf: Burmese cargo boats, both legal and illegal, have stopped entering Bangladesh ports on the border recently due to increased Burmese naval patrols in the sea of Arakan, said a rice trader from the border.
"Recently, Burmese cargoes have almost halted entering into Teknaf Port in order to avoid arrest by the Burmese navy, which is patrolling on the Arakan Sea," he said.

According to local sources, the Burmese navy ships are now patrolling at five locations of the coast of Arakan, including nearby the Mayu Lighthouse, Sandaw Shin Pagoda Island, Manaung Island, the mouth of the Kaladan River, and Kyaukpru Channel.



The witness said the patrolling ships are Burma's largest, and are not from Arakan's naval bases. The ships are coming from naval bases in Rangoon and Hal Gyi Island.

"Many smuggling cargo boats in Burma are able to come to Bangladesh by giving bribes to local navy forces, but this time the cargo boats are unable to make it with bribes because the naval ships are now under a mission," the trader added.

Burmese businessmen export many goods from Burma, including rice, timber, and cane, via sea to Bangladesh, but most of these exports are smuggled illegally.

A Burmese businessman from Sittwe confirmed that some Burmese navy ships, including Inn Ma Navy from the delta region of Burma have arrived at the Arakan Coast and are patrolling.

It is reported that the Burmese ships are closely watching the maritime border with Bangladesh on instructions from the high authority in Naypyidaw, who claimed foreign invaders could enter Burmese territory at anytime.