General Twan MyatNaing, chairman of United Leagueof Arakan (ULA), orderedretailers not to increase the price of essential commodities through video speech broadcast today.

The Arakan Army (AA) commander warned them against hiking prices of vital food and other products at a timewhen many Rakhine people have beensuffering from the cyclone Mocha.

The cyclonic storm wrecked almost the entire Rakhine State in western Myanmar on 14 May.

"The merchants who deal with basic food and other products should not sell the items with high prices,” hestated adding that they should helpthe people at these terrible times.

"We would like to issue a warning against those merchants and vendors who demand excessive prices from thecommon people,” said General Naing.

The AA commander addressed the Rakhine people on the emergency relief-efforts in the aftermath ofcyclone Mocha.