Vanishing Without Justice: A Surge in Disappearances Under Junta Rule in Mon State

May 30, 2025

HURFOM: Across Mon State, cases of enforced disappearances and suspicious abductions are rising at an alarming rate. Local communities say that junta-controlled police and administrative personnel, who claim to oversee law and order, are deliberately ignoring public complaints, particularly reports related to missing persons.

On May 29, 2025, 18-year-old Ma Za Za Lin, from Kyauk Tan village, Mupun, in Mawlamyine Township, was reported missing. She had been working at a teashop on the city’s Strand Road before vanishing around noon. Her family has issued a public appeal, including her name, age, parents’ details, and last known location, urging anyone with information to contact them directly.
According to volunteers involved in tracing missing persons, there are at least four missing person reports filed every day in Mawlamyine alone, many with suspected criminal links.

“Nearly all of the cases are tied to criminal activity. Families come forward with so much hope and trust, but the junta police often respond slowly or not at all. In some cases, police officials even ask for money upfront before taking action, and very few investigations happen on the ground,” said a community volunteer.

The fear is compounded by incidents like the one in Paekhon, Bago Region, where a 14-year-old student who was abducted on May 23 was later found dead, sending shockwaves among parents across the country.

The climate of lawlessness has also led to an increase in gender-based violence. On May 26, 2025, a horrifying incident occurred in Kaw Sein village, Mawlamyine Township, where a 13-year-old schoolgirl went missing in the morning after telling her family she was going to collect coconuts.
The next day, her body was found near a plantation, bearing signs of sexual assault and brutal violence. Local sources report she had multiple injuries, including a fractured neck, facial trauma, and lacerations around her mouth.

Two men suspected of involvement in the crime were arrested on May 28 and are currently under investigation. However, the incident has sparked outrage and fear among locals, especially as cases like this have become more common since the military coup.

“These are not isolated incidents,” said a human rights advocate in Mawlamyine.
“What we’re seeing is a breakdown of law and order. Civilians are being targeted—sometimes by junta-backed networks or in areas where the Junta has permitted criminal enterprises. There’s no accountability, and both the Junta and armed actors have committed serious abuses in recent months.”

As Burma plunges deeper into conflict and chaos, community members are calling for stronger protection mechanisms, particularly for children, women, and vulnerable individuals. The growing number of disappearances reflects not only a criminal crisis but also a collapsing system of justice under military rule.

According to data collected by HURFOM’s Voice Up initiative, disappearances are particularly concentrated in areas where the Junta has authorized widespread gambling operations. These include Thanbyuzayat, Mudon, Mawlamyine, Chaungzon, and Paung in Mon State, as well as conflict-affected townships like Yebyu, Kyaikto, Thaton, and Bilin. Victims include children, youth, and elderly civilians alike.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News