As of last week, no one is allowed to walk in front of a military base after 5:00 p.m. in Matupi Township, southern Chin State, the Burma Army announced.
According to a Matupi Township administrative officer, the commander of the No. 2 strategic command base in the area released an order on February 6 declaring that people must avoid the area around the military camp between the hours of 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m.
Matupi borders Paletwa Township, the site of recent fighting between the Burma Army and the Arakan Army.
Because of this, “security has been tightened in the town,” said the administrative officer, who clarified that the new regulation was not a curfew.
The move serves as an inconvenience to local villagers, who need walk past the military camp when they come to Matupi town.
In addition to not walking past the military camp, the strategic commander also reportedly said that the taking of photos of the area is prohibited during the day, as well as talking on the phone in close proximity to the base, carrying firearms in the area, or stopping motorbikes in front of the base.
Infantry battalions 140 and 304 are based in the area, one half mile from Matupi town. The Burma Army reinforced troops in Matupi on February 3, sending 100 military vehicles and two helicopters to their strategic command there.