Junta’s forces manipulate security restrictions and extorts money from residents
September 10, 2024
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.
Read moreJunta’s forces still target and extort VPN users despite claims that complaints are possible
July 10, 2024
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.
Read moreThe sad ending of a beautiful village
April 24, 2024
“Dhammasa” was a beautiful and peaceful village located on the riverbank of the “Gyaing River”. Inhabited mostly by Mon people, it had many big houses. That is gone now. The recent and reckless attack by the military junta,has burnt the village to ash.
On March 25th, 2024, the Mon and Karen joint revolutionary forces attacked the police station in Kaw Bane village, Kaw Ka Rate Township, Mon State. After a heavy battle revolutionary forces took control of the police station.
Read moreConscription law threatens future prospects of Burmese youth
March 18, 2024
HURFOM: As the conflict intensifies across Burma, it has become abundantly clear that the military junta is losing the war it started. In an effort to bolster their military losses, they have turned to even more drastic measures. On February 10th, 2024, the military council enacted compulsory conscription law.
According to the conscription bill, men who are in the 18-35 age range and women who are in the 18-27 age range can be selected for military service.
Read moreFifty days after Chaung Hna Kwa armed conflict: Forced Relocation, Property Destruction and Loss of Innocent Lives
January 15, 2024
HURFOM: The armed conflict between the military junta and the joint forces of the Karen National Liberation Army and the People’s Defense Force has lasted more than 50 days, stretching from November 30th, 2023 to January 15th, 2024.
Local residents from nearly 20 villages have experiencing forced relocation, property destruction and loss of innocent lives, torture and extortion, lack of education opportunity, insufficient health service and food shortage.
Read moreFour residents arrested by junta in Kan Bauk
December 20, 2023
HURFOM: On December 17th, 2023, a man and three women from Kan Bauk Town, Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division were arrested by the military junta in their home at midnight.
Read moreCoup forces civilians to become victims to landmine explosions
December 12, 2023
HURFOM: Since the attempted coup on February 1, 2021, the use of landmines has re-emerged across Burma. Communities that never experienced the consequences of landmine explosions are now enduring casualties, injuries and disabilities.
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) reports there has been an increased use of anti personnel landmines across Burma.
Read moreDrug abuse in Mon State is uncontrollable
November 28, 2023
HURFOM: “I sent my son to the New Mon State Party Centre to receive addiction treatment. He’s cured and returned home but it didn’t last even for a month. He’s abusing drugs again. Now, I have to let him do what he wants,” said a disappointed mother from a village in Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State.
Another mother explained what was happening to her son at this time.
Read more“I’ll chop down my betel nut plants”
November 8, 2023
HURFOM: “If the price of betel nut is going to drop like this, I’ll chop down my betel nut trees and replace them with rubber plants or grafted durian plants,” said a betel nut plantation owner from Southern Ye Township, Mon State.
The price of betel nut in Ye Township has been dropping since early 2023 and now, extreme price drops have nearly destroyed the market, local people told HURFOM.
In October, 2023, 1.63 kg of dried betel nut could get 1,200 to 1,800 MMK but now, it is only priced at 800 to 1,200 MMK. In addition, there have been no buyers for betel nuts.
“Not only the price drops but also no buyers. It’s the worst – we can’t find a buyer even if we’re in need of cash,” said one plantation owner.
The betel nut had a good price in 2021 with 1.63 kg being priced at 8,000 to 9,000 MMK. The price has dropped nearly ten times within two years.
“The price drop this year has made us want to die. We borrowed money to put fertilizer, to remove bushes, to clean the plantation and to peel betel nuts. I’ve planned to pay our debt after the harvest season. But it didn’t go as planned. We’ve had a really tough life,” said a betel nut farmer from Southern Ye Township.
Farmers in Yeh Township rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, and 70% of them grow betel nuts.
“I had betel nuts from the previous season and I’d wait for a good price to sell them. Now, new betel nuts are ready to harvest. If the price is going to drop like this, we’re in the worst situation,” said another plantation owner.
All basic food prices and commodity prices have risen sharply, but the price for betel nut has dropped dramatically, making it very difficult for betel nut farmers.
“We rely on the betel nut plantation for everything. Now commodity prices have risen but only our product has a bad price. We’re worried about our sustenance,” said another farmer.
Betel nuts from Ye Township have been exported to China, India and Bangladesh but there is no export at the moment.
Law comes from the barrel of a gun
October 6, 2023
HURFOM: “Just kill my son if he works as an informant for the military junta. I won’t complain about that. But it isn’t true now. He is the one who has fed us. It’s totally brutal,” mourned a mother of a Long Lone resident who was killed by the Long Lone Township People’s Defense Force (PDF).
On September 26, 2023, the Long Lone PDF announced they arrested and killed seven military junta’s informers between July to September, 2023.
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Latest Headlines
- Village Administrator increases gambling events in Ye Township and pays Junta forces
- 500 displaced villagers from Kyike Hto unable to return home
- Dump trucks of junta’s project create transportation hardship to local residents
- Junta’s air strike kills two palm oil plantation workers and injures other seven
- Two children injured by artillery attack in Kaw Ka Rate
- Two Nyin Htwe residents killed by junta’s artillery attack
- Arrest of undocumented Burmese citizens on Thai – Burma border reaches record levels
- Junta’s artillery attack kills monk and injures two in Kyike Hto
- Three residents including a child injured by artillery attack in Maung Ma Kan
- Junta’s air attack kills two local men in Kaw Ka Rate
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