Mawlamyine residents say heightened security strips them of their dignity

June 29, 2022

HURFOM: The military junta is deploying numerous security forces as they tighten security measures in Mawlamyine, the capital of the Mon State.

Local residents speaking to HURFOM say these security forces often assault their dignity, particularly when the junta authorities conduct investigations on the movement of local people.

“The (the security forces) mainly stop and check male residents. They routinely open and search bags or backpacks. They treat residents like criminals and they speak rudely to people. The military junta also employs security forces who are in civilian clothes and this has increased the covert surveillance of people in Mawlamyine,” said one local person from Mawlamyine.

The military junta is operating under the unproven belief that anti-coup activists fled from their native places and have taken shelter in Mon State. In response, the junta has tightened their surveillance and security measures, in hopes to arrest suspected or perceived anti-coup activists, members of the People Defense Force (PDF) or even those who appear to support the PDF.

There has been heightened security at junctions and check-points at the entrance and exit of the city. In the second week of June, the military junta also ordered the Ward General Administration Offices to check the list of visitors, every day and night and to provide a regular report.

“The “hundred household officer” told us to report to the Ward Administration Office and fill out the visitors’ report form. We’ve been told to do a regular report and renew the form every month. We have to fill out our parents’ names, our names and our ID numbers in the visitors’ form,” said a person who stays in Mawlamyine.

The military junta has also instructed the Ward Administration Office to ensure the number of people staying in a house and the number of people listed as residing in the household, are consistent.

Security forces have even been authorized to arrest anyone who does not comply, or shoot individuals who may attempt to flee from investigations conducted by the security forces.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News