KNLA continues extorting money from drug abusers in Yebyu

September 23, 2024

HURFOM: HURFOM has been informed that the cases of “arrest and extortion” by the Karen National Liberation Army are on the rise in Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division. Brigade’s #4 and #6 are active in the township and have arrested local young men after accusing them of abusing drugs. Then, the KNLA demands a huge amount of money from their family members for their releases.

On March 11^th, 2024, KNLA Brigade #4 arrested three young men from Yar Phu village, Yebyu Township, accusing them of abusing drugs and demanded 400,000 MMK for each person’s release.

On July 18, KNLA Brigade #6 arrested two local men from 60-Mile village under the same accusation and demanded 40 million MMK for their release.

On September 1^st, 2024, two young men from Thar Yar Mon village were arrested by Brigade #6. KNLA demanded three million MMK from each victim.

On September 12^th, 25-year-old Ko Ah Si from Yar Phu village was accused of abusing drug and arrested by Brigade #6. The KNLA demanded ten million MMK from his family members.

“Ko Ah Si was arrested on the way to his friend’s home. The KNLA phoned us at about 7 pm and said he was arrested as he was caught with drugs. If we want him to be released on bail, we must pay ten million MMK,” said the victim’s mother.

After paying ten million MMK, Ko Ah Si was released on September 13th, 2024.

Family members of the victims said the KNLA threatened them that if they were unable to pay, they would kill their victims.

“They arrested the people and demanded the money. It looks like “kidnapping”. If they found them abusing drugs, just give them a proper punishment. But they threatened us that if we didn’t pay the money, they would kill our family members or force them to join their army,” said a Yar Phu villager.

According to information received by HURFOM, the village Administrators and the KNLA Brigades are cooperating to commit “arrest and extortion”.

“Some villagers couldn’t pay the demanded amount, but were able to negotiate from ten million to seven million or from 40 million to 20 million. They had to negotiate with the officials of the KNU army. If they didn’t have enough money, they had to borrow,” said a mother of a victim.

KNLA Brigade #4 arrested and extorted 40 million MMK from a 33-year-old man from Ma Yan Chaung village after he was accused of being a robber. On August 9th, 40-year-old man Ko Htalk from Thar Yar Mon village was arrested after a bullet was found in his house. He was extorted for 10 million MMK.

In the first week of August, the KNLA extorted between 200,000 to 600,000 MMK from the drivers of passenger trucks and transportation trucks at the entrance of Thar Yar Mon village.

“It isn’t “arrest and give a proper punishment”. Even though they aren’t robbers, they’ve robbed people,” said a local villager.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under Feature, News