With the election drawing nearer, the junta has stepped up crackdowns and arrests in Mon State, locals said.
Soldiers and junta-appointed authorities have intensified surprise checks at busy junctions and at the entrances to cities and towns across Mon State.
In carrying out these inspections, large numbers of police, junta-aligned militia members, and other authorities are often deployed alongside soldiers, witnesses said.
A resident of Ye Town in Mon State told Than Lwin Times that the junta’s tightened security and stepped-up inspections have become more noticeable as the election approaches.
“The checks have likely become more stringent because of the election. The junta is deploying large forces to carry out checks everywhere, day and night. Mobile teams are roaming around the town, and the inspections have become much more frequent,” he said.
There is also an increased risk of abduction for conscription if locals encounter junta inspection teams. As a result, many young people in Mon State are reluctant to leave their homes, while those who must go out for work or other essential needs do so in fear and anxiety.
A resident of Bilin Town also reported that the junta’s inspections and arrests have intensified, confirming that some young men have been abducted for conscription during inspections.
“The inspections were really harsh. Soldiers would force anyone they thought looked suspicious out of their vehicles. Arrests were happening every day, in the morning and evening. I don’t know if they’ll start doing it in the afternoon too. Some people were even abducted for conscription,” he told Than Lwin Times.
As the election approaches, the junta’s inspections have become more rampant, with young people being arrested, physically beaten, and verbally abused simply for appearing suspicious.
Some of the young men abducted for conscription during the inspections were released after paying large sums of money, but the others were not.
The junta’s harsh inspections have left locals in Mon State feeling fearful and unsafe about traveling or even leaving their homes. The risk of being arrested, detained, or abducted at any time if they encounter inspection teams is very real.
Despite tightening checks on civilians, the junta has failed to effectively curb the high rate of crimes such as theft, robbery, and murder in Mon State, with most perpetrators remaining at large.
