CNI News

5 March 2024

Several border places between Moreh, Manipur State, India and Tamu, Sagaing Region, Myanmar have been re-opened for a limited time, reportedly from residents of Tamu. Kumar Gate, Petan Gate, Shiva Gate and David Gate are opened from 06:00 a.m to 09:00 a.m. or from 06:00 a.m. to 01:00 p.m.

After communal riots broke out in Manipur, India, Tamu locals were prohibited from coming and selling goods. The reason why some gates were re-opened was because the people from the Indian side wanted petai beans that have already emerged in Tamu, Ko Min Ko, a person who go from Tamu to Moreh to sell goods, told CNI News.

" The gates are not legally opened. The Indian side has opened, but you can enter from the places they have designated. Official gates agreed by the two countries have been closed for a long time. They have not been open as yet. But now, have petai beans already appeared in Tamu? The people from the Indian side want petai beans. They open some gates for petai beans. But they open not every day. If this place is closed today, the other place is open." he said.

Tamu-Moreh border stone

Kalay-Tamu- Kalaywa border trade gate, official gateway of Myanmar - India bilateral trade has been closed since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak. In fact, some border places have been opened with mutual understanding. Only when the Indian side opens, the people from Myanmar side can sell goods. Because some border trade gates have been opened, petai beans produced in Tamu can be sold on the Indian side. But they can be sold only on the basis of limited time. They could not be sold at a good price, Ko Maung Win, a trader from Tamu, told CNI News.

" It is convenient. By we can't sell petai beans at a good price. Now they don't buy a lot of petai beans. Because they open some places sometimes, it's a little convenient. Petai beans traders thought in the early days that they couldn't sell petai beans. When the patai beans really appear, Indian people buy petai beans again. But the price is reduced because we have to sell for a limited time." he said.

The sign of Nanphalon Market in Tamu

At present, consumer goods and food products that come from Monywa and Mandalay have not been able to be exported to India through the Tamu border because of difficult transportation. Only the products produced in Tamu can be sold and some products only are imported from India.

Battles are breaking out on the way before getting to Tamu, It is still not convenient for trucks to travel. The people have to travel on the forest roads by motorcycle, said traders.