AYEYARWADDY DIVISION – According to news, the military junta is threatening to seize and shut down properties as national assets if hotels, guesthouses, and shops in the Chaung Tha Beach area are closed without being operational due to the absence of guests.
Due to ongoing battles near Shwe Thaung Yan Town of Pathein Township, the number of visitors to Chaungtha Beach has significantly decreased. On January 22, hotels, guesthouses, and shops were temporarily closed. As a result, the military junta and some local gangsters are pressuring businesses to reopen, threatening to seize and nationalize properties if they closed.
Although the junta’s wing is extremely pressuring Chaung Tha town to return to normal operations, currently only a small number of local residents remain. Additionally, tourist numbers have decreased, and local merchants are unable to sell goods at the beach.
Since early January, intense battles between the Arakan Army and the junta near Shwe Thaung Yan Town, Pathein Township have increased after military camps were attacked and seized. Hotel business owners are worried and have been closing and relocating their businesses.
According to local news, intense battles near Shwe Thaung Yan are continuing and military junta forces are attacking with heavy weapons and preparing defense positions at villages near Chaung Tha beach. Numerous wounded soldiers are also taken from Chaung Tha Beach area.
