Local groups reject junta’s claim of full control over Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa Road

Local opposition defense and administrative officials in Sagaing Region have rejected the military junta’s claim that it regained full control of the Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa road on 7 July, telling Mizzima the announcement is propaganda aimed at impressing India. The military junta launched a self-proclaimed “road clearance operation” on 2 June and reached Kalewa on 7 July, after which its information department announced full control over the road. Local officials responded to inquiries from Mizzima regarding the announcement. A military official from the Kale District People’s Defense Force (PDF) said the announcement is aimed at creating a favourable political image for the junta. “Propaganda channels supporting them claim the road is open and secured, aiming to deceive India. With their current troop strength, dominating this route is impossible; it is purely for show,” the official said. According to the official, junta troops have not established bases or deployed manpower at key strategic points along the road. Instead, they took photographs in front of village signboards, torched the villages, and marched directly to Kalewa in a single column. He added that junta forces suffered heavy casualties and failed to mount strong resistance during clashes along the route. While some heavy and light weapons were seized from them, specific military details cannot yet be disclosed due to operational security. An official from the Minkin Township People’s Administration also said junta forces are not stationed along the road. “There is no stationing of troops. Let them come again if they dare. Whether they have gained control of this road section will become clear to the public in time,” the official said. According to Minkin Township People’s Administration records, the junta column torched Letpantaw, Kyaukmaw, Konmaw, and Seiktha villages in Minkin Township during their march, destroying approximately 160 homes. The military junta claimed that its control over the road would enable seamless cargo flow to central Myanmar via the Tamu-Kale India-Myanmar trade route, passing through Kalewa and Monywa. However, fighting remains intense along the Tamu-Kale road. A local military source reported active clashes on 8 July in Kanan Village, Tamu Township, with defense forces maintaining control over areas including Witok and Bokekan. The 115-mile Monywa-Yagyi-Kalewa road project, which includes asphalt paving, bridge construction, and rest areas, is funded by the Indian government with over US$175 million. The upgrade remains incomplete, preventing cargo trucks and large passenger buses from passing, with traffic limited to local cars and motorcycles. Clashes have intensified along the Tamu-Kale and Kalewa-Yagyi-Monywa routes following junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s discussions on border stability and reopening trade routes during his trip to India from 30 May to 3 June.