Theft cases on the rise in Gyaing River area but no action from local authority

April 7, 2025

HURFOM: Local villagers reported HURFOM that theft and burglary cases were on the rise at night in Kyune Yaw, Dhammasa, Kaw Bane and nearby villages, Kyikemayaw Township, on the border of Mon and Krean State; however, there was no action or punishment from the junta’s army that controlled the area.

The residents from Gyaing River had fled their home since March. 2024 and thieves and burglars burgled the houses, grocery stores, phone shops and motorbike repair shops of displaced villagers and stole valuable things.

“They burgled motorbike repair shops and grocery stores in the village and stole everything which can be sold easily. They weren’t afraid of being caught,” said a grocery store owner.

As the local authority – the junta’s army is unwilling to handle the thefts and burglaries, the local villagers believes that the army itself is responsible for the thefts and burglaries.

“The thefts aren’t local villagers. As the army stations in the village, on one dare to go outside at night except the soldiers,” said a villager who wants to remain anonymous.

The local villagers have to spend their night in other villages as they are afraid of being harmed by thefts and burglars and they have to hire a guard for 300,000 MMK per month to protect their houses or shops at night.

“I dare not sleep at my home and have to spend my night in another village. I’m worrying about my house and shop and hire a guard for 300,000 MMK per month,” said a local resident.

The military junta had invited local villagers to return home in April, 2024; however, most displaced villagers have not trusted the army as there are constant military presence in villages, arbitrary arrests and indiscriminate artillery attack in the area.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News