Armed group demands 70 million Kyat from two villages in Southern Ye

April 19, 2022

HURFOM: An armed group known as “Rehmonnya Army” led by an individual known as Nai Chan, has demanded 70 million Kyat from Ham Gam and Kaw Hline villages, located in Southern Ye Township, Mon State.

The armed group entered Ham Gam on April 12, 2022 and occupied the village Administration office. They exploded a bomb, tore down the office flag pole and stomped on the Burmese flag.

They then demanded the two villages provide them with 70 million Kyat.

“They said this is not extortion . They just want to borrow money for a while. They’ll pay it back when they are okay. As far as I know, the villages haven’t fulfilled the demand yet,” said a resident from Southern Ye and who is aware of the “Rehmonnya Army”.

A video clip of the invasion of the two villages has spread on social media.

“Nine members of the Army entered Han Gam and Kaw Hline villages in full military uniform. We invited the village Abbots and the Administrators explaining to them that we do not want to extort money from the villagers, rather we want to borrow it for a while. We’ll pay it back one day. We don’t have enough money to buy weapons so we have to borrow money from the villagers. It isn’t extortion,” explained the “Rehmonnya Army” on social media post uploaded on April 16.

Two vehicles with local Burmese soldiers have since entered the village Ham Gam to conduct an investigation.

“Nothing has happened now. Everyone has enjoyed the Songkran celebration. The festival of “Kyaik Mehm Palog” is also being celebrated and people have climbed the mountain, because that is where the festival is taking place. This has been the tradition for years. We had to cancel a music show but there was nothing chaotic,” said a local villager.

After the coup, many new armed groups have emerged in Southern Ye and some have been extorting money from local villagers and plantation owners/workers.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News