Informants spying on villagers in Ye

September 23, 2008

HURFOM : The SPDC authorities’ widespread use of informants and spies is causing inhabitants of Ye Township to feel threatened and insecure, says a HURFOM field reporter in the area. Authorities have been recruiting and training people to gather information in an attempt to capture people giving information to exile news agencies, as well as track the movements of organizations like the Mon Youth Organization or the Mon Literature and Culture Committee.

Civil servants are especially likely to be tapped for information. In Thaung Pyin village, in western Ye Township, most of the government staff are secret informants and spies, says Nai Hong, 40, a former New Mon State Party member from the area.

“Most of the school teachers are suspected to be informants. We need to be very careful before criticizing something about the village authorities or Burmese Army or their dogs,” another villager said angrily, using an insult to refer to members of the Union Solidarity Development Association, militia forces and other pro-regime organizations.

According to a Mehm Seik, 20, a member of Thaung Pyin’s Mon Literacy Association, the commander of Light Infantry Battalion No. 343 asked recently asked school-teachers to closely monitor the activities of village associations. “A Mon female teacher Ma Hay Mar, 26, is the head of informants in our village. She is a well-known member of pro-government organizations in this village and is responsible for constantly reporting about the movement of all associations and NMSP ex-members activities. She can cause harm to any of us, at any time.”

To keep tight security in the area, the battalion’s commander instructed key members of the village’s USDA and militia groups to watch people closely, and to compile a “black list” of unsupportive villagers. “The ‘black list’ is a list of the villagers who they couldn’t pressure to become their supporters. Like me; I am sure my name would be on their list because I always refuse to join pro-government organizations,” a young man who asked to remain an anonymous explained.

Villagers also reported that, two months ago, LIB No. 343 held training exercises on identifying villagers who give information to foreign news media or news media operated by Burmese in exile. Military intelligence officers taught Military Security Force personnel methods for identifying press sources. Restrictions on money transfer services have also increased, and the army has demanded telephone owners to report a weekly list explaining who has used the phone each week.

“Nai Kyaw Tun, 38, the younger brother of the village headman, Nai Aye Nyo, 43, is another dangerous person for us,” said Nai Ong Tala, 35, a key member of Thaung Pyin’s summer Mon Literacy program. “He is a head of the USDA in this area. We have been monitored since last summer when we launched the Mon Summer Literacy Program, in collaboration with the Monks Association in the village. He told No. 343 about our activities. Then, the battalion’s commander threatened us and told us not to hold the Mon summer class again.”

Beginning with the previous headman, Nai Kyin, 60, and continuing under the rule of Nai Aye Nyo, LIB No. 343 and LIB No. 587 have increased USDA membership and use of secret police. They have forced young men and students to join the organization, and providing training workshops which teach that the military must always have a role in Burmese politics.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News