Maungdaw, Arakan State: The newly appointed Western Command Commander, Brigadier Gen Soe Thein visited northern Arakan on September 6, according to an official from Buthidaung.



The Western Command Commander had visited to northern Arakan by speed boat from Akyab. He arrived in Buthidaung on September 6 at noon and went to visit the Buthidaung Tactical Operation Commands (TOCs) headquarters, the official said.

It is the first trip to the region for Brigadier Gen Soe Thein, after promoting the position as a Western Commander, the official further added.

In the evening of September 6 he traveled to Maungdaw, where he surveyed the condition of the Maungdaw-Buthidaung highway-road. It is the only road connecting the western border town (Maungdaw) and other Arakan State Townships, said a member of the trader association from Maungdaw.

“He specially surveyed the condition of ancient tunnel built in 1850  by Westwood Baillie & Co. England, which is now going to damage for water drop from the hill. If the tunnel close, the border town and other parts of Arakan State will stop until authority open the alternate road,” the member of trader association said.

“Every raining season, the road is damaged by heavy rainfall. The people who travels from Maungdaw to Buthidaung are faced more difficulties for their business.” He added.

The Western Commander went to the Burmese border security force (Nasaka) headquarters and called the entire area commanders for a meeting, said an official from Nasaka.

On September 7, the commander visited Sayadaw U Kaytu (Myoma) Monastery and other Government offices. He returned back to Buthidaung at noon and back to Akyab by speed boat at 14:15 hours.