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Local economy taking a hit as rumors about Muslim migration continue to swirl, say locals in Ye Township

Locals in coastal areas of Ye Township are reporting that the rampant rumors and fake news spreading on social media surrounding the illegal immigration of Muslims and potential terrorist attacks in Mon State are hurting tourism and the local economy. Villagers report that most of the restaurants in Kabyarwa Beach — located 27 km from Ye City in southern Mon State — are closed due to the lack of visitors. Read more

Villagers protest dismissal of administrator

On September 21^st 2017, locals organized two protests in HmameKaNane village and Mawlamyine in Mon Stateto voice their displeasure over the dismissal of HmameKaNane village administrator U Aung Ko from his position.Protesters areunhappy with the authority’s decision to fire U Aung Ko, citing a lack of due process.

“There was no proper investigation. [Our administrator] was dismissed after a member of parliament submitted a proposal. We are not satisfied[with the process], so we’ve organized protests,” said Daw Than Aye, a local protester.

U Aung Ko’s dismissal came after Mon State Member of Parliament (MP) Daw Mya Thein Gee Maw (Mudon) proposed the termination of his duties, accusing him of corruption,selling public land for his own profit, and holding a bias. Protesters from Hmame Ka Nane village disagree with the MP’s accusations and want justice for their administrator.

“People don’t know exactly why [the administrator] was dismissed. If there is a report that the administrator abused public land and was involved in corruption, there must be an investigation at the ground level. Removing an administrator without any proper investigation is just an abuse,” said U Maung Aye, a resident of HmameKaNane village.

Village Administrator U Aung Ko said he received the letter of dismissal on September 14^th 2017, but did not know why he was removed from his position.

“I had to sign warning letters two times in the presence of the township administrator. The first time was for that I was weak in performing my duties and the second time was for that I yelled at a villager who accused me of having a bias when providing development funds to villagers,” said U Aung Ko.

However, in response U Myint Than Win, Office Director of the Mon State Government, said after receiving a proposal from MP Daw Mya Thein Gee Maw to take action on HmameKaNane Administrator U Aung Ko, he instructed the district administrator to conduct an investigation and submit a report. According to U Myint Than Win, it was found that HmameKaNane Administrator U Aung Ko did not respect his colleagues in the Mon State Parliament, performed weakly in his duties, showed little cooperation with villagers and prominent persons in the village, and had many complaint letters filed against him. Therefore, the district administrator had reported that U Aung Ko was unfit for his position.

“We can’t dismiss a village administrator as we wish. We have been investigating the HmameKaNane case for a long time,” said U Myint Than Win.

Since Mon State Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan took office earlier this year, ten village administrators have been investigated for alleged misconduct. Eight of them have already been dismissed and two are still under investigation.

Farmers upset as Burma Army destroys rubber plantations on previously confiscated lands

Farmers in Jone Paw village near Ye City, Ye Township, Mon State are upset that Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #586 has been clearing confiscated rubber plantations and selling the wood. According to reports, four plantations have already been destroyed.

“The military cut the trees and sold them without any notification to the owners. The military said that they cut the plants as they were no longer productive, but all my plants are good. They have already cut 1,000 plants from my farm,” said Daw Ngwe Pin, a local rubber farmer. Read more

Attempted rape of 11-year-old girl in Ye City

On August 26^th 2017, a 17-year-old man attempted to rape an 11-year-old school girl in the An Na War Quarter of Ye City, Ye Township, Mon State. The girl’s grandmother reported the case to the Ye City Police the next day.

On the evening of the incident, the girl’s grandparents were sleeping in their bedroom, while their son, their 12-year-old grandson, and the 11-year-old girl were sleeping in the front of the house. The grandmother was awoken when her brother living in the house next to them began shouting her name around 1 am in the morning. Upon rising the grandmother saw the door to the house was open. The grandmother then heard shouting from her granddaughter and exited the house to find the girl outside without any pants. Read more

Worry continues despite withdrawal of Burmese troops from NMSP controlled areas

HURFOM: According to reports, on August 10^th 2017, around 70 Burmese military troops were ordered back from the New Mon State Party (NMSP) controlled Kanbauk village area in Kyar Inn Seik Kyi Township, Karen State, leaving approximately 30 active Burmese Army troops. Despite the withdrawal of the troops, worry of future conflict still remains among villagers.

“On the evening of August 10^th the Burmese troops went back. But [we worry] they will come back again. We can’t stay calm even though there is no more [Burmese Army] troops coming into our region. We’re worrying that they [NMSP and the Burmese Army] will fight each other again like in the past,” said Nai Jel Toi Nai of Kyar Inn Seik Kyi Township. Read more

Traditional weaving businesses in Mudon Township struggling to survive

HURFOM: Traditional weaving businesses in Mudon Township are struggling to survive due to declining profitability with the influx of modern weaving technology.

“Nowadays, traditional weaving businesses cannot compete with modern weaving machines, so they will gradually disappear. We are stuck with this job because we can’t do other work and don’t have enough money to invest in another business. Even if it isn’t profitable enough, this is all we can do [for our livelihoods]. After paying wages to workers, only enough for our meals is left for us. It’s impossible to do traditional weaving as a long-term business. The world is changing everyday,” said a weaver from Kyaik Roi. Read more

Private company to provide electricity for southern Burma

HURFOM: On August 19^th 2017, Bedok Construction and Engineering Co., Ltd. (BCE) organized a public consultation meeting with local community members in the Rehmonnya Monastery in Lamine, southern Ye Township, Mon State. Company officials, member of Mon State Parliament Dr Min Soe Linn, the village administrators of Lamine Sub-township, as well as local villagers joined the meeting to discuss about providing electricity in their regions. Read more

Fake news on social media leave Mon locals worried about terrorist attacks

Rumors and fake news spreading over social media of potential explosive attacks in Mon State by Muslim sympathizers have some locals concerned.

“From one user to another there is a message warning [people] not to travel from September 11th to the 25th as Muslim people have been planning to organize a Jihad war. I can’t say the news is true, but we feel there is a possibility so we’re afraid of being attacked and we have to be careful [in our daily life],” said Nai Jel Toi Nai from Kyar Inn Seik Kyi Township. Read more

Thaton District jail cells overflowing with young drug users

HURFOM: There are not enough cells in Thaton District’s jail to deal with the youth drug problem, according to Nai Nyan Seik, an office administrator for the New Mon State Party (NMSP) in Thaton District, Mon State.

His comments come after the Thaton District NMSP has recently received an overwhelming number of parents asking for help with their children who are abusing amphetamines. Read more

Villagers living in fear amid increasing Burmese military incursions into NMSP controlled areas

HURFOM: According to reports, Burmese military forces have increasingly trespassed into areas controlled by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) in Thaton Township, Mon State and Kyar Inn Seik Kyi Township, Karen State, leading to fears of armed skirmishes by locals.

Read more