Lack of NRCs in remote areas of Kyaikmayaw Township strip residents of voting rights, access to government services

July 26, 2019

According to the venerable Monk Pan Ti Ta, Abbot of Kaw Zwel village, Kyaikmayaw Township, nearly 50 percent of all residents in remote areas of Kyaikmayaw township do not hold a National Registration Card (NRC).

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11 years on, Thanbyuzayat resident still seeking justice for military land confiscation

July 17, 2019

HURFOM: More than 11 years after his land was seized, Nai P—, a victim of land confiscation, has told HURFOM that he still hopes to one day have his land returned to him. The land in question was confiscated by Burma Artillery Regiment Command No. 315 (ARC No. 315), stationed west of Wae Kalee village, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State.

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Mon State residents worry they can no longer afford electricity after Ministry of Electricity and Energy hikes rates

July 17, 2019

On June 25th 2019, the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE) announced that beginning in July 2019, the cost of electricity per kilowatt hour (kWh) would increase throughout Burma. The decision to increase electricity rates has been met with criticism from Mon State residents given that households are now required to pay nearly three times what they paid for electricity prior to the rate increase.

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Having received poor compensation for their land, villagers demand Mon State government investigate June Cement Industry Ltd.

July 16, 2019

In their search for justice, farmers in Kyaikmayaw Township’s Mount Pyar Taung region are demanding that the Mon State government investigate the June Cement Industry Ltd.’s  2011 acquisition of farmland. Specifically, area farmers have taken issue with the low levels of compensation provided in exchange for their land.

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2-year prison sentence for social media post signals renewed attack on freedom of expression in Mon State

July 5, 2019

On July 1st 2019, U Aung San Oo, an activist and resident of Mote Tama town, Paung Township, Mon State, was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor by the Paung Township Court on charges of defamation under Section 66(D) of the Telecommunications Law. The charges were brought against U Aung San Oo by U Zaw Zaw Htoo, a Paung Township lawmaker, in response to a social media (Facebook) post wherein U Aung San Oo referred to the lawmaker as a “mindless drunk” following an interpersonal conflict between the two.

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