Villagers worry about unexploded artillery shell
March 22, 2023
HURFOM: An unexploded artillery shell was found near Aung Thar Yar village, northern Ye Township, in Mon State.
Local military and related authorities have not removed the dud shell, leaving villagers worrying about the potential of an explosion.
Last month, there were armed clashes between the Burmese army and the joint forces of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the People Defense Forces (PDF). The 307th Artillery Battalion randomly shot artillery weapons at villages and some bomb shells did not explode.
Read moreKyaikmayaw prison officials stealing money from family members of political prisoners
March 20, 2023
HURFOM: Prison officials from the Kyaikmayaw Central Prison have been wrongly demanding money from family members of the political prisoners.
Officials have been telling family members that the prisoners need money and that they should send certain amounts to the prison officials. When family members complied, prison officials did not transfer the full amounts to the political prisoners.
A political prisoner who was recently released from the Kyaikmayaw prison said if family members sent them 100,000 Kyat, prison officials took 30,000 Kyat.
Read moreJunta pressures owners to transform their motorbike into tricycles
March 20, 2023
HURFOM: After three members of the village Administration team including the Administrator, U Kin Soe were killed on January 25, 2023, the military junta banned riding motorbikes in Kan Bauk village track, Yebyu Township, in Tenasserim Division.
The junta had allowed riding motorbikes for carrying things but there must be no more than two big baskets at the rear of the bikes. However, on March 7, the junta issued an order that all motorbikes must now be transformed into tricycles. If not, owners will be punished.
Read more“Kratom Culture” is growing in Mon areas: substance abuse on the rise
March 20, 2023
HURFOM: Summer festival season celebrates ordinations and weddings. The season has arrived in many Mon communities. Kratom leaf liquor plays an important and essential role in the festival season, to welcome and treat visitors.
Kratom leaves are boiled in a big bowl and distilled to create the liquor that is served to neighbors who came to support the ceremony and guests. During the festival season people are drinking alcohol, beer and Kratom liquor and dancing happily in the ordination ceremonies
Read moreWeekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
March 20, 2023
Third Week of March 2023
HURFOM: The military junta is targeting women and children across Burma. In documentation areas of Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi region, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) continues to document the ongoing human rights violations perpetrated by the junta. Most recently, HURFOM fieldworkers reported that an innocent 6-year-old boy from Shwe Yaung Pya village died after being hit in the head by artillery mortars fired indiscriminately by No. 314 Artillery Regiment Command base in Zee-Won village, Bilin, Mon State.
Read moreAn 18-year-old killed in TPP
March 16, 2023
HURFOM: At about 8 am on March 12, 2023, a young woman, aged 18, who lived in Kyan Taw village near Three Pagoda Pass (TPP) Town, Kyarinnseikyi Township, Karen State was killed, according to the local sources.
She was killed on her way to TPP to buy goods when her motorbike was also stolen.
Read moreLife gets harder under martial law and curfews
March 16, 2023
HURFOM: On February 2, 2023, the military council imposed martial law in 37 townships across Burma.
Ye Township in Mon State and Kaw Ka Rate and Kyarinnseikyi Townships, in Karen State are included in the list and are inhabited largely by Mon people.
The junta has also deployed a large number of military personnel to the townships, and tightened the security at the towns check-points. They also imposed a curfew, preventing residents from going outside between the hours of 6pm to 6am.
Read moreJunta detains two young women at interrogation center: No contact possible
March 14, 2023
HURFOM: On March 9, 2023, the military junta arrested two young women near Ka Lane Ong Town, Yebyu Township, Dawei District, in the Tenasserim Division, and sent them to the local interrogation center.
17-year-old Ma Kay Thi Thi Lin from Zin Bar village and 18-year-old Ma Thet Myat Noe from Kyauk Shut (Nwe Le) village went to Ka Lane Ong Town by motorbike to buy mobile phones. They were arrested by Burmese soldiers near a bridge on their way back.
Read moreMilitary denies detainee the right to meet family members
March 14, 2023
HURFOM: On February 14, 2023, the 106th Light Infantry Battalion arrested Nai Tint Wai, owner of the Yadanar Men Gas Station in Maw Ka Nin village, Ye Township, in Mon State.
On February 27, the detainee was transferred to the 9th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) in Ye. He has not been allowed to meet with any of his family members.
Read moreTwo children killed by junta’s artillery attack in Thaton
March 14, 2023
HURFOM: On March 8, 2023, two children from Jone Main village, Thaton Township, in Mon State were killed by an artillery attack initiated by the 24th Light Infantry Battalion. The two victims were seven years old and 13 years old.
Two civilians were also seriously injured, according to local sources.
“The battalion just randomly shot artillery weapons without any provocation. A 9-year-old child and a 50-year-old woman were seriously injured ,” said a local source.
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