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Thieves threaten livelihoods in Mon State

HURFOM: Local residents in Mon State are reporting to HURFOM that thieves are more active, with personal property being stolen frequently due to lack of protection from the authorities.

“We can’t leave  our motorbikes out like before. If you don’t take good care, your motorbike can be stolen even if it is in front of your house. The thieves are taking motorbikes in broad daylight. Lots of motorbikes have been stolen in our township,” said a local from Thanbyuzayat Township.

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Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
Week Two, June 2022

Across HURFOM target areas, cases of abductions and arbitrary arrest continued to rise. The ongoing human rights violations speak to the inhumanity of the Burma Army and their lack of compassion for civilians. Innocent villagers are targeted in a relentless, ongoing campaign of terror. Those who have shown their support and solidarity to pro-democracy campaigns have been deliberately targeted.

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Mon business owners and parents experience discrimination when using the Mon language

HURFOM: Mon businesspersons who have named their companies or factories using the  Mon language are experiencing prolonged delays when they seek services from government departments.

Mon businesspersons have told HURFOM that they have had to bribe government officials to get things like business registrations processed.

“I’ve named my factory using the Mon language and they (government officials) say the registration can’t be done using a  Mon name. I do not  want to change the factory name, I made attempts at least three times but nothing has changed. However, after bribing the officials with 3 million Kyat, I’ve got my registration with the Mon name,” said a Mon businessperson.

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Government schools not operating in mix-control areas due to security concerns

HURFOM: Ka Lake Toke, Lake Poke and Min Hla Aye villages of Ye Township, in  Mon State are under the mixed control of the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burmese military.

Due to security concerns in these areas, government schools have not begun the new academic year.  In addition, each of these villages has not been able to open their schools in the past year due to Covid-19 and unsettled politics.

“The government (military junta) have always pressured (the village authorities) to open schools but no one can guarantee safety and  security. So the village authorities and community leaders had a meeting and decided not to open schools,” said a local source.

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Mobile phone and Internet network cut off in villages in Kha Lae – Dagon Tie area

HURFOM: According to local sources, many villages in the Kha Lae – Dagon Tie area, located in Kyarinnseikyi Township,Karen State have experienced a shutdown of mobile phone and Internet network services since April 23, 2022.

There have been frequent armed clashes between the KNLA (Karen National Liberation Army) and the Burmese military who are based in Dagon Tie Police Station.   The telecommunications network blackout is thought to be related to these ongoing armed clashes.

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Student registration doubles in Mon National High School, as parents walk away from junta controlled education system

HURFOM: Parents do not feel secure to let their children join government schools, so they are increasingly registering their children at the Mon National High School in Wang Ha Poe village located in the New Mon State Party (NMSP) controlled area.

The number of high school students in Wang Ha Poe has more than doubled and the school is faced with accommodation problems. 

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Drug abuse in Mon State has risen sharply since the February 2021 coup

HURFOM: A widespread failure with the rule of law coupled with a dysfunctional education system is thought to have contributed to 40% of youth in Ye Township, Mon State and Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division to succumb to drug abuse.

“My son had finished his first-year university exam but he quit his studies after the coup. He doesn’t go to university now, and does not have a job.   He began to use drugs. He and his three friends were arrested for using drugs at the Kan Pauk Gyi Bridge on May 30,” said a mother of a university student from Yebyu Township.

The ready availability of drugs in villages since the coup has been noticeable.

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Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
Week One June 2022

Weekly update on the situation in Karen, Mon & Dawei since the attempted coup:

13+ Arrested
8+ Detained
6+ Injured
3 killed

In May alone, HURFOM reported 52 medical workers were dismissed and 6 activists were sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison.

Full Analysis:

As the month of May ended, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) released findings which found evidence of a worsening humanitarian crisis with nearly 30,000 newly displaced people across target areas. In addition, extortion, bribery and ransoms demanded by the military junta have continued to wreak economic turmoil. Livelihoods have been stunted by the General’s incompetency. Since 1 February 2021, peace has been denied to millions of civilians across the country as fighting occupies their villages. Many still dare not go home. Some have sought shelter and safety along the Thai-Burma border. However, they have largely been denied and deemed ‘illegal’ by Thai soldiers who refuse to allow them to cross. Humanitarian aid is urgently required to meet the growing needs of the sick, and vulnerable people trying to survive amid devastating circumstances.

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Record high gas and commodities prices threatens livelihoods

HURFOM: After more than a year since the military coup, the price of gasoline has reached unprecedented price levels,  and some areas are experiencing shortages.

This situation is creating many challenges for motorbike taxi drivers in cities across Mon State.

Before the coup, a liter of gasoline sold for 440 Kayt.  A year later the price has risen to  2,000 Kyat/liter.

“Previously, we could transport customers from Kyaikmayaw to Mawlamyine for just 2,500 Kyat and 3,000-Kyat in gasoline was nearly enough for a day. Now, a liter of gasoline is priced at 2.250 Kyat. We must pay 6,500 Kayt in gas for a Kyaikmayaw-Mawlamyine one way trip,” said one motorbike taxi driver.

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Language barriers linked to soldiers beating Thanbyuzayat Township villagers

HURFOM: Hnet Pyaw Taw residents can not understand nor speak fluently in Burmese, so there are  difficulties when being asked questions by the Burmese soldiers. During such exchanges the soldiers often beat villagers.

On May 28, 2022, another villager from Hnet Pyaw Taw village, in the Ah Nin village tract, of Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State was beaten by local soldiers.

Recently two trucks filled with Burmese soldiers visited the village Administration office and had a meeting with the Administrator. Villagers have not been informed what was discussed.

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