Martial law and new card system adds up to trouble for rubber plantation workers

October 24, 2022

HURFOM: The military has imposed martial law in every township of Mon State. The directive is also known as Article 144.

Local people are now prohibited from going outside at night. According to local

sources, martial law has disrupted the ability for rubber plantations to get their work places

“It’s impossible to do our work due to martial law. Rubber workers must work at night to tap the trees) If something bad happens, no one will take care of us. We’re powerless daily workers, we dare not resist the military. The village Administrator also won’t protect us,” said a local rubber plantation worker.

In villages of Mudon Township, village Administrators have made special “cards” for plantation workers which include their picture, name, ward/village and phone number of the village Administrator. Workers are to carry these cards with them and show them if they are stopped by the military.

Administrators say if something happens to the card holder, they will solve the problem.

The villagers have less confidence in the scheme.“According to the current political situation, I don’t trust the promises of the village Administrator,” said a woman who works at a rubber plantation in Mudon Township.

The Administrators have extorted money from workers who wanted to have one of these cards.

In addition, interactions with the military at night can be deadly On September 23, a villager from Ka Log village, Southern Ye Township, Mon State was shot and killed by the military council’s security forces. Soldiers said he breached martial law.

“My rubber plantation is at Thanbyuzayat and we live in Mudon. The village

Administrator has granted the “card” but we’re always stopped by the soldiers at the check-point,” said another rubber plantation worker.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News