Weekly Update in HURFOM Targeted Areas (Fourth Week of November)

November 29, 2021

A weekly update by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) on the situation on the ground. Summary data includes Mon State, Karen State and Dawei Region.

It has been almost ten months since the military initiated a sabotage of Myanmar following an unjust and unsuccessful coup. HURFOM has continued to document the dwindling state of affairs which has resulted in economic, social and humanitarian downfalls.

More than ten young people, including a 17-year-old were captured by Mawlamyine junta military intelligence bureau in Mawlamyine, Mon State on 22 November. A witness explained that three military trucks and ordinary cars, totaling nine vehicles, came and blocked the street and began searching door to door. A young man named Ko Zin Minn was arrested. Thirty troops were present to arrest one man. There seemed to be no clear reason for the arrest as the civilian is a shopkeeper.

Ten more civilians were arrested, including seniors, in Kan Bauk, as reported from Yebyu Township, Dawei where at least 40 junta troops conducted door to door searches and indiscriminately arrested people in the village at 11PM on November 21st.

On accusations of being associated with the National Unity Government and the People’s Defense Forces, the junta seized two houses belonging to the NLD Members of Parliament in Laung Lon Township, Dawei on November 22. These were the houses of NLD Members of Parliament: U Bo Htwe, and U San Myint. They could not arrest them and their families as they had left home a few months earlier. Since last month, the military announced these officials as ‘terrorists’ and imposed anti-terrorism laws.

Checkpoints have also become increasingly more unsafe, especially with more soldiers and military reinforcements. At some checkpoints in Mon State, the junta’s security forces do not allow motorbike passengers to wear masks and helmets. They are also banned from wearing caps and black sunglasses. Local people feel these new orders are ridiculous and limit their freedom of movement.

“The junta troops issued an order not to wear masks, caps, and black sunglasses for security reasons. The law will punish those who didn’t follow their order. Due to imposing this order, many local people were fined since last week,” said a Mawlamyine resident.

Starting from the second week of November, the junta has announced that there are new rules regarding motorcycles. Two men cannot be on a motorcycle together. And a woman cannot be driving with a male passenger.

A case reported by a Myaing-Thar-Yar resident who witnessed deadly arrests explained: “I saw soldiers open fire on two young men on the same motorbike in Mawlamyine, Mon State. Their bike crashed, and the soldiers brought them to their truck. It was about 11PM and there were two military trucks and a police car. I can’t stop thinking about these two boys and what will happen to them.”

On November 23, HURFOM received 4 cases of arbitrary arrests, only from Myaing-Thar-Yar Ward, Mawlamyine.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Analysis, News