Robberies on the rise in Ye Township

January 12, 2023

HURFOM: For the last two years, since the military-led coup took place, the number of robberies has been increasing in Ye Township, Mon State. Local people are facing increasing challenges to make a living peacefully.

This has been most noticeable beginning at the end of 2022, as more and more pedestrians, and rubber plantation workers have been threatened at knife or gun point. Victims have been robbed of their motorbikes, gold and jewelry.

“I came back from the monastery by motorbike at noon. On my way back home, two other motorbikes approached me holding a knife. They pointed to my neck with the knife and ordered me to stop my bike. They took my phone, 20,000 Kyat and my motorbike,” said one victim of a robbery in Ye Township.

A monastery in Du Yar village, Ye Township was also robbed and lost millions kyat, according to the villagers.

“The two men came to the monastery at the night when there were celebrations of “Happy New Year”. They threatened (the Abbot) and forced him to open the safe box. They stole 12.8 million Kyat,” said a villager.

The military led coup, and the destabilized economy has led to a financial crisis. On top of these challenges people are facing increasing challenges from an escalation of robberies. There are also more armed individuals patrolling the streets for security reasons.

“Soldiers are patrolling very often in our village. When they encounter young people, they extort them. Sometimes they arrest them and take them to the police station. This is typically followed by then asking money from their parents for their release. The soldiers also routinely extort rubber plantation workers,” said a villager.

Ye residents hear gunshots and explosions nearly every day and they worry for their security.

“Now people have a lot of trouble. We have to worry about the possibilities of armed clashes and at the same time, we have to fear robberies. Nothing is safe here,” said a local woman.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News