Junta’s forces manipulate security restrictions and extorts money from residents

September 10, 2024

HURFOM: Since August, 2024, junta’s soldiers, police members and leader of local militia groups in some townships, Mon State have “stopped and checked” pedestrians who have passed their check-points and residents who have gone outside at night and extorted money from them after accusing them of breaching security restrictions.

The junta’s security forces have ordered that vehicles and motorcycles must be stopped and checked at the security gates (check-points) on Ye-Thanbyuzayat Highway Road and at the top of the Da Dar Phyu Bridge in Ye Township. Then, they have routinely extorted money from motorists and passengers under various reckless accusations.

“It’s August 16^th at the Da Dar Gyi check-point. I carried two tanks of gasoline to my village on my bike. One of the soldiers stopped me and asked for 50,000 MMK. I replied I didn’t have that much and he ordered me to go back to the village to get money and give him the money. He also took a photo record of me and my bike,” said a local man who experienced a money extortion.

On August 30, 2024, a woman from Lamine Sub-township who travelled with a passenger truck was extorted 300,000 MMK by the junta’s security forces at a check-point on Ye-Thanbyuzayat Highway Road nearby Aung Thar Yar village.

“They’ve extorted money from every car and motorbike. Each motorcycle rider has to pay 5,000 MMK. They’ve also checked passengers and extorted money form them after creating many accusations,” said a resident from Lamine Sub-township.

In July, 2024, the military junta has armed leaders of local militia groups in Ye Township. The leaders of military groups have opened check-point nearby their villages after getting arms and weapons from the junta. Then, they have threatened local residents with guns and extorted money from them.

“They didn’t extort villagers nearby the check-point. They’ve extorted the strangers. Recently, they extorted 10,000 MMK from each motorist in Pauk Pin Kwin village, Yebyu Township,” said a Ka Log resident.

The junta’s security forces have committed money extortion not only in rural area but also in urban area. The security forces in Mawlamyine have stopped and checked vehicles and motorcycles at their check-points. Then, they have also stopped pedestrians and checked their mobile phones.

If they find VPN application in the phone, they have extorted a huge amount of money from the owner. The members of local militia groups at the check-points in the entrance and outlet of the city also extorted passengers under various accusations.

On August 19, 2024, the junta has banned two men riding a same motorbike in Mawlamyine and they have also been conducting search and arrest at crowed areas and road junctions after 8 pm.

“After August 19, if they’ve found two men riding the same motorbike, they stopped and checked them. They’ve also conducted a routine night patrol and tightened security. They’ve still checked the VPN. If they find someone installing VPN in their phone, they extort money from his/her,” said a Mawlamyine resident.

Besides extortion for using VPN, the junta’s security forces have often seized the mobile phone if it is a good brand.

Moreover, the police members and the members of local militia groups have checked “visitors’ list” in some wards in Mawlamyine nearly every day and extorted money from the house owners. If the owner is unable to pay the money, they yell at them and threaten them.

“They’ve never done a good interrogation. They yell at us and treat us badly. They’ve extorted us even they found nothing wrong,” said a Mawlamyine resident.

The junta’s security forces have also arrested and extorted money from local visitors who have come back from Zin Kyike and Sin Yaw Waterfalls at Zin Kyike and Paung Police Station and at the top of the Mottama Bridge.

“They asked for 200,000 MMK and I begged them to accept 100,000 MMK. But they denied my request. The police members at the top of Mottama Birdge are really bad,” said a local worker who was extorted for two men riding a same motorbike.

The cases of unlawful arrest and money extortion have dramatically risen since after the Mawlamyine based Southeast Military Command had ordered to tighten the security in local area.

“We have to even apologize them to accept our money,” said a resident who experienced extortion by the junta’s security forces.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under Feature, News