Local police’s ignorance regarding the drug trade in Ye Township raises civilians’ concern

March 10, 2015

Ye
Drug use is spreading like a chronic disease in Ye Township, Mon State, causing great concern to the New Mon State Party (NMSP), Mon political parties, youth groups and local residents about the dangers and consequences of drug use.

On February 7, 2015, the NMSP, in coordination with two police officers and the village headman from Koe Mile Village, arrested a female drug dealer in Man Aung Village, located near Ye Township’s Koe Mile Village. During the arrest, the coordination team seized 149 methamphetamine pills.

According to a local resident, drug dealers can earn a fortune easily. As money and corruption rule the system in rural regions, drug dealers can easily defeat anyone who attempts to interrupt their business. Furthermore, deficient government anti-drug efforts have facilitated an expanding drug trade, and works to encourage individuals to experiment with drugs without fear of legal consequences.

Commenting on the current situation, one Ye Township village headman states, “The Ye police force should arrest the drug dealers, as they have the legal power, enough staff and also military [support]. If we [village administration] have to arrest the drug dealers, self-security becomes a concern as we have no weapons [nor power]. Even the Burmese police instructed [the village administration] to arrest the drug dealers, they don’t come to the villages; they just give the order. Drug use is an important issue in our lives, [and the local police] should protect our lives.

“They blamed the village administration for not obeying their orders and for being corrupt. I know nothing about the corruption but they [the police] should arrest [drug dealers] when we inform them when, where and who. The police didn’t come immediately to arrest [the drug dealers], but came to investigate two or three days after our report [was filed]. We have to be very cautious of reporting drug dealers, as they have a strong network. If the police don’t take action immediately, they [the drug dealers] can easily avoid arrest.”

“The police must conduct the operation soon after we file our report,” the village headman continued, “If not, they cannot arrest anyone. If there is a delay, the drug dealers are aware of being arrested and our attempt is fruitless. As low-rank authority, our village administration teams have a huge challenge in arresting drug dealers by ourselves. We must have a concrete plan before arresting drug dealers. Even though the police arrested the drug dealers after we filed our report, the dealers bribed the police to avoid arrest. So, there has been no improvement in the anti-drug campaign. Arresting small drug dealers or users is not an effective attempt, we must find the main source of drug production or trading in order to eliminate drug use in our region.”

According to a local resident from Ye Township’s Ma-Gyi Village, “Burmese military Light Infantry Battalion No. 31 is based in Ma-Gyi Village. The military doesn’t take any action on drug use or trade, they just launch a superficial operation. The military has been bribed by the drug dealers and don’t arrest them, they even help the drug dealers in selling drugs.”

Mon State’s villages and townships lie in an extensive, ever-growing network of drug trade, which supports rapidly increasing of drug use in Mon areas. According to HURFOM’s records, nearly 40% of youth in Ye Township, Mon State are addicted to drugs.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News