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SPDC township authorities arrest and extort fees from residents not included in family lists

Moulmein: According to HURFOM field researcher, since May 5^th, 2010, joint forces of State Peace and Develop Council (SPDC) included members of Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC), Police forces, People’ militia, Immigration and Military Intelligence have been cracking down on residents and family members whose names have not been listed on their families’ lists in Moulmein Township, Mon State. Residents claimed that some family members have been arrested and had fines extorted as punishment for failing to present their names on the families’ list.

According to information based on local sources, the crackdown started on May 5^th, and has been occurring every night around 10 P.M. to 12 midnight by the joint forces (known as multi-forces), targeting the persons whose names were not listed on the families’ list or guests who have not asked permission from the local TPDC office to stay as guests with residents. An eyewitness, Nai Htoo, 30, confirmed that the SPDC joint forces consist of 12 persons in total and they have crackdown some households in his village, Pha-Ought, arresting 5 men who were originally from other areas of Mon State and who were married and now living in Pha-Ought village.

“The arrested men were mostly from other areas of Mon State. I heard 5 men were arrested on the night of May 5^th. Out of the 5 people, two men are from Kyaikmayaw and another Tow from Paung Townships of Mon State. I don’t know the original place of another ones.” Nai Htoo confirmed to the HURFOM field researcher on May 11^th the original locations of the 5 people arrested.

A reliable source who closed to the Township authorities of Moulmein reported that those 5 arrested persons were detained at Pha-Ought police station for one night, on May 5^th , and were then asked to pay 50,000 kyat each to get free next morning. A 66 year old ethnic Mon villager who requested that his name be kept anonymous, reported:

They (I assume police Officers from Pha-Ought village) demanded 50,000 kyat to free from each [of the] 5 arrested men as a punishment fee or fines. It is not fair. According to [the] law for failure to ask permission to stay in a village, it [punishment] should be only a few kyat as fine payment. Now they [the police officers] have tried to make money by extorting [more money] from the guests or the people who have got married here.

The residents told the HURFOM researcher that they had no idea about the joint forces who have been cracking down in their village and are confused as well as worried about other villagers who have been not registered on their families’ lists.

“My son-in-law is not from this village. Hence, if the group comes and checks my family list, he might be arrested. So I suggested staying away from this village during this month.” Nai Tin, 65, a resident of Pha-Ought village said.  “It is also quite weird that the headmen from my village did not know where these group of people [members of joint-forces] are from. I think he lies. He should know and inform to all villages before the incidents occur.”

According to a 60-year-old resident who has knowledge of and experience with local politics, these continued crackdowns on residents’ houses might be linked with the recent bomb explosions around Mon State. He also estimated that the Mon State authorities are attempting to recheck the exact numbers of the families’ members who were able to vote for the upcoming general election, which is rumored to be held in October of this year.

“If my assumption is not wrong, this action [the recent night crackdowns] might be directly associated with the recent bomb blast,” a local politician explained to HURFOM’s field reporter. “The Mon State authorities are very serious about security during this period. The other possible issue is the confirmation of the list of the eligible voting population in this village for the general election.”

In similar instance of increased security measures implemented in Mudon, a neighbor township of Moulmein, the local authorities have been issuing curfew to township residents to make better security according to a member of a government servant living in Mudon Township. “The curfew started at 9 P.M and the local authorities issued since the second week of May. Even in Mudon downtown, the town is very quiet after 9:00 PM,” he added.

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