New junta directive leads to extortion of vehicle owners

June 2, 2025

HURFOM: On May 20^th, 2025, the junta’s chief, Min Aung Hline instructed local authorities to arrest owners of unlicensed vehicles and to begin legal actions. Soon after the directive was made, joint teams of the junta soldiers and traffic police stationed themselves at the entrance and exits of the Mon State Capital, Mawlamyine, in downtown Ye Town, and at the junctions of village roads in Ye Township. Arrests began in earnest of owners of unlicensed vehicles and those driving motorbikes with temporary licenses.

Owners were extorted from 300,000 MMK to one million MMK.

“They asked for the money at the place where they caught the driver of the motorbike. If you don’t have money, they bring you to their office and ask for even one million MMK. If you fail to fulfill their demand, they seize your motorbike,” said a local man.

On May 22^nd, the junta released a statement that four unlicensed motorbikes were caught in Ye, Thanbyuzayat and Mudon Townships and the owners were charged under the Control of Exports and Imports Act.

“The junta’s force informed their friends in advance about where they would check motorbikes. We also have to ask our friends before going outside. We must avoid the streets where they conduct the check,” said a Ye resident.

Many motorbike sale agencies in Ye Township closed their operations because they worried junta’s force would raid their shops and seize their motorbikes.

“As soon as we heard the news that the junta was arresting owners of unlicensed motorcycles or persons with temporary licenses, we halted our business,” said a motorbike sale agent from Maw Ka Nin village, Ye Township.

Since February 1^st, 2021, the Road Transport Administration Department has stopped issuing new motorbike licenses.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News