Motorists Along Ye-Thanbyuzayat-Mudon Road Forced to Purchase Propaganda Film

May 27, 2014

HURFOM: Complaints are emerging from travelers on the Ye-Thanbyuzayat-Mudon road, located in Mon State, that authorities are extorting motorists by forcing everyone traveling along the road to purchase a propaganda DVD about Myanmar fire brigade activities. Local people are disappointed with authorities for engaging in such acts as the country tries to reform.

On May 20th, motor officer and fire brigade groups collaborated to force drivers and passengers to buy their 2,000 kyat DVD. People were pulled over and forced to purchase the DVD whether or not they held drivers licenses, and did not break any motor rules.

Nai Ba Lai, a driver from Mudon, was pulled over while traveling between Thanbyuzayat and Mudon as he was delivering rubber to Mudon.

“I have both a driver’s license and a car license”, explains Nai Ba Lai, “I asked [the fire brigade and motor officers] why they punished me, but they said it’s just 2,000 kyat for one DVD, even though I did not want to [purchase the DVD]. They forced everyone who travelled to buy their DVD.”

According to Nai Ba Lai, the fire brigades and motor officers caused heavy traffic along the route as they inspected every truck and motorbike, and forced drivers and passengers to buy their DVD. Arguments occurred between authorities and travelers because of this extortion.

“They should not force people who have their driving-license and motorbike and car licenses [to buy the DVD]. But now they forced both those who have licenses and those who do not. It is not fair”, continues Nai Ba Lai.

During the previous government term, many groups such as Motor Officers, Fire Brigades, the Immigration and National Registration Department, and Militia groups had cooperated to force people to buy concert tickets and propaganda films. This DVD film about the Myanmar fire brigade is the first propaganda film to be sold during U Thein Sein’s presidency.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News