As the junta in Mon State cracks down on and confiscates unregistered vehicles its employees, including soldiers, police officers, traffic police, and civilians are taking and using the confiscated vehicles.
Residents of Mon State accuse junta-affiliated officials of using confiscated unregistered vehicles for their own benefit.
The junta has ordered that each team cracking down on unregistered vehicles has to confiscate at least five vehicles a day. Once the teams have reached that quota they are free to take and use any extra vehicles that they confiscate.
A Mon State resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, criticised the growing use of confiscated vehicles, not only by the junta’s high-ranking officials but also by lower-level employees, saying that the practice is illegal.
He said to Than Lwin Times: “They're using unregistered vehicles themselves, and it's a clear violation of the law. Now, both the police and the soldiers are driving around in these unregistered cars.”
He also explained that many junta soldiers and officials who confiscate unregistered vehicles are prepared to strike deals with owners of the vehicles where they pay a bribe to be released and avoid prosecution, but the junta officials keep the unregistered vehicle. This allows the officials to take the vehicle for their own use, safe in the knowledge that no one, neither the authorities nor the owner, will ask for the vehicle.
Another Mon State resident who also requested anonymity said: “The junta ordered a crackdown on unregistered vehicles, but its own people are using them everywhere. It’s like only the public has to follow the law, while the junta’s employees don’t. It’s completely one-sided, and it’s just not fair.”
The junta has said that any unregistered vehicles that it finds will be confiscated and their owners will have to serve a one-month prison sentence under the Export and Import Law.
The junta order to crack down on unregistered vehicles has proved to be a lucrative opportunity for those enforcing the law as it has allowed them to collect massive bribes from vehicle owners and have the private use of confiscated vehicles.
