Junta’s army arrests plantation workers and extorts them

June 26, 2025

HURFOM: In the second week of June, 2025, three family members from R Yu Taung village, Ye Township, Mon State enroute to their rubber plantation, were arrested by a local regiment of the military junta. The regiment demanded three million MMK or they would be sent to military training for conscripts.

The three family members were released after paying the ransom of three million MMK.

“Those arrested included a father, a son and daughter. They demanded three million MMK for the son and the daughter, because they were within the age range for conscription. They threatened that they would be sent to the army if they did not pay. All were released after giving the money,” said a nearby plantation worker.

The R Yu Taung based 343^rd Light Infantry Battalion has been launching indiscriminate artillery attacks in the area, and artillery shells have exploded at the rubber plantation.

“The situation in R Yu Taung isn’t good at the moment. We hear the sound of gunfire every night. Now, Lieutenant Lin Oo (the leader of the local militia group) has returned to the village. He is a problem for the villagers,” said one resident.

Many plantation workers have experienced this extortion scenario, but are too frightened to speak out.

“There are lots of similar cases. Most dare not speak out, so no one is aware of the abuses,” said a local source.

The local regiment and the local militia group have installed their security gates in R Yu Taung village. and ban villagers from passing through the gate from 6 pm to 6 am.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News