Junta personnel at security gates on Ye – Dawei Highway Road extort travelers and drivers

August 19, 2025

HURFOM: Since July, 2025, the “Da Dar Phyu” Security Gate in Ye Township, Mon State and the “Ma Hwelve Taung” Security Gate in Dawei Township, Tenasserim Division have been extorting from 5,000 to 20,000 MMK from travelers and drivers using the highway road.

The “Da Dar Phyu” Security Gate has been extorting 20,000 MMK from each truck; 2,000 MMK from a “minivan” and 5,000 MMK from each traveler.

“The army and police gates are located at the edges of the “Da Dar Pyu” Bridge. The two gates aren’t too far. But if we use the bridge, we have to pay money for both gates. The police gate extorts 20,000 MMK from each truck and the army gate additionally extorts 2,000 MMK from the same truck,” said a local resident who has to use the bridge often.

Additionally, if a tank of gasoline is being transported from Ye Township to Ye Chaung Pyar area, 5,000 MMK for each tank is extorted. Locals have to pay 3,000 MMK for a bag of rice and 2,000 MK for a package of instant noodles. Additionally, each traveler must show their ID card to get permission to cross the bridge, according to Ye residents.

“They extort 2,000 MMK for a bag of betel nuts and 5,000 MMK for an 18-Liter tank of gasoline. After the Kyuang Yaw armed clash, the junta has limited the transportation of rice and food making us pay additional costs for our food,” said a Ye Chaung Pyar resident.

Similarly, the “Ma Hwelve Taung” Gate also extorts from 3,000 to 13,000 MMK from travelers and truck drivers leaving additional burden on them.

“The “Ma Hwelve Taung” Gate extorts 15,000 MMK from a 12-wheel lorry and 30,000 MMK from a 22-wheel lorry,” a truck driver told a local resident.

Since the 2021 attempted coup, the junta installed so-called “security gates” at the entrances and exits of towns in Mon, Karen and Tenasserim regions, and the junta forces have been extorting travelers and drivers using various threats.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News