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Crack down on call scam gangs creates serious consequences for locals

HURFOM: In order to crack down on call scam gangs and human trafficking along the Thai – Burma border, the Thai government has cut off the distribution of electricity.  The cut affects five locations along the border and authorities have, without exceptions, banned the transportation of gasoline beginning at 9 am on February 5^th, 2025.

The electricity blackout and gasoline ban has created serious consequences in Three Pagoda Pass Town, Kyarinnseikyi Township, Karen State all of which are on the Thai – Burma border.

Shortage of drinking water

The lack of electricity has forced drinking water factories to cease operations leading to a shortage and a dramatic rise in the cost of drinking water throughout the towns.

Mya Pan – a local drinking water factory stopped their production and their prices rose significantly. A bottle of drinking water was priced at 10 Thai Baht before the blackout but now, local people must pay up to 25 Baht for a bottle of drinking water. The cessation of the company’s operations has also led to a shortage.

“We have no electricity so we can’t operate our water pump. We have to buy water for our daily use,” said a Three Pagoda Pass resident.

High price and scarcity of gasoline

After experiencing a blackout for ten days in Three Pagoda Pass, the price of gasoline began to rise.

One liter of gasoline was priced at 35 Baht before the blackout but now, the price of the same amount of gasoline has risen to 60 Baht. Shortages are also now commonplace.

“At the moment, most of the gas stations in Three Pagoda Pass have put up a notice saying “no more gasoline to sell” and closed their operations,” said another resident.

Mon national schools alongside the border

The students from the Mon national schools in Japanese Well and Kyan Taw villages which are under the control of the New Mon State Party and which are located on the Thai – Burma border have also suffered from a serious consequence of blackout by the Thai government.

“Now, we have no electricity so we have to go to the well to get water. The well is very far from our school. Instead of doing their studies, students have to spend all their time collecting water,” said a national school teacher.

The blackout has also created problems for students who are about to take their final exam.

“The final exam is about to come. But we don’t have electricity to print out the question papers. The children have to do their studies by candle light. They have to buy the candle with their pocket money,” said a schoolteacher from Japanese Well village.

The Mon national school in Japanese Well village has 150 students and the Mon national school in Kyan Taw village has 47 students.

The DKBA – Democratic Karen Benevolent Army which controls Three Pagoda Pass released a statement on February 9^th, 2025 claiming they would try their best to get back electricity and gasoline from the Thai government.

Armed groups have also promised to crack down on call scam gangs and unlawful gambling centers, which are dominated by Chinese peoples in Three Pagoda Pass. The group issued an order urging Chinese citizens in Three Pagoda Pass Town to leave town no later than February 28^th, 2025.

Prolong armed conflict creates humanitarian crisis in Ye

HURFOM: On January 8^th, 2025, about 30 troops with the military junta entered Kyone Long (old) village, Ye Township, Mon State and stationed themselves at the “Dhamma Kar Yone Bo Kalay Monastery”.

The reason for the incursion into the village is because they believe that members of the armed revolutionary forces were active in the area.  The junta’s troops have launched indiscriminate artillery attacks on nearby villages.

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Locals face rice shortage in Gyine River area

HURFOM: Since 2023, there has been military tension in Dhammasa, Ta Ra Nar, Kaw Swell, Kaw Thut, Kha Yone Gu, Than Ga Long and Kyune Gone villages, Kyikemayaw Township, Mon State.  Villagers are increasingly insecure about returning to their farm fields due to the remnants of bombs and landmines left in the paddy fields.  This is leading to a rice shortage in the area.

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Many residents suffer catastrophic injuries from recurrent Ah Nan Kwin battles

HURFOM: Since August 18^th, 2024, there have been frequent and sustained armed clashes between the military junta and the Karen National Liberation Army and its alliances in areas near the Ah Nan Kwin military base and alongside Three Pagoda Pass – Thanbyuzayat Highway Road, Kyarinnseikyi Township, Karen State and Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State.

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Ongoing battles means prolonged displacement for many villagers along Karen/Mon border

HURFOM: On August 18^th, 2024, the Karen National Liberation Army and its allied revolutionary forces launched an attack on the Ah Nan Kwin Strategic Military Camp located on the Thanbyuzayat – Three Pagoda Pass Road.   Since the initial attack, which is at the border of the Karen and Mon State intense battles have been on-going.

The battle has been ongoing for more than four months, forcing the entire populations from Ah Nan Kwin, Sa Khan Gyi, Zee Hna Pin, Ye Ta Gon, Yaw Thit, Pa Yaw Hel, U Khway – Daw Yain, That Kaw and Lot Shan villages to flee their homes.

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Plantation owners in armed conflict zone halt work

HURFOM: In 2024, rubber garnered a good price in Mon State but most rubber plantation owners in armed conflict zones have had to halt their harvesting due to security concerns.

The Ye-Thanbyuzayat Road part of the 8^th Union Highway Road is currently controlled by the joint resistance forces and the military junta has launched military operations in order to regain control alongside the road.

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Landmine explosions occur frequently in Thanbyuzayat:  Military tension persists

HURFOM: Since July, 2024, the military junta has been reinforcing their troop presence in villages alongside the Thanbyuzayat-Ye Highway Road, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State and they have frequently battled with the local resistance forces.

Along with this ongoing military tension, landmine explosions occur constantly in Ye Ta Gon, Aye Thar Yar and Ah Twin Sa Khan Gyi villages of the township.

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KNLA continues extorting money from drug abusers in Yebyu

HURFOM: HURFOM has been informed that the cases of “arrest and extortion” by the Karen National Liberation Army are on the rise in Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division. Brigade’s #4 and #6 are active in the township and have arrested local young men after accusing them of abusing drugs. Then, the KNLA demands a huge amount of money from their family members for their releases.

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Junta’s forces manipulate security restrictions and extorts money from residents

HURFOM: Since August, 2024, junta’s soldiers, police members and leader of local militia groups in some townships, Mon State have “stopped and checked” pedestrians who have passed their check-points and residents who have gone outside at night and extorted money from them after accusing them of breaching security restrictions.

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Junta’s forces still target and extort VPN users despite claims that complaints are possible

HURFOM: On June 24th, 2024, junta spokesperson General Zaw Min Tun, said if one was arrested or extorted for using or installing VPN applications on mobile phones, they could file a formal complaint seeking further investigation.

However, junta’s security forces are still targeting VPN users and extorting huge sums of money from mobile phone users.

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