Sittwe, 21st July 03: "The monopoly granted to a private transport company has caused sharp increase in prices of all the essential commodities brought to the western Burmese state of Rakhine from Burma proper. The ruling State Peace and Development Council junta granted the Kyauktaung Transport Company sole rights to carry the transport business between Sittwe, the state capital, and Taungup, the southern reach of Rakhine State that connects Pyi on the Burma proper for the year 2003..."