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AYEYARWADDY DIVISION- Residents reported that since the last week of August, junta troops and the police in plainclothes have been investigating passers-by at the road intersections, reportedly extorting 10,000 to 100,000 kyats from them.
The junta army brought in the Pyu Saw Htee (militia) group members and the ward administrators to check the mobile phones of passers-by and extort money.
“I am not sure if they are the militias, men in military uniforms as well as the ward administrators are inspecting the passers-by. They’re asking me to show my cell phone and also asking for national registration card (NRC). They also ask some questions and those who answered awkwardly are detained and only be released after a bribe. All the money we had is also extorted. I had to pay 60 thousand kyats for not having NRC card with me,” said a person who experienced the inspection.
The junta army has been extorting money at the intersections of the Township Agriculture Office, Municipal Office, Education Officer’s Office, and (on famous roads)such as The General Road, Lanmadaw Road, etc. since August 24, stated the members of ward administration.
“Nowadays, the police and soldiers are not in uniform. They are doing patrols and investigations in civilian clothes. More forces are also deployed at the city’s offices, intersections, The General Road and Lanmadaw Road. Sometimes militia forces are reinforcing the investigations,” stated the informer, a ward administrative member.
After the Military Council withdrew its forces from the checkpoints in and out of Laymyatnhar Town in the first week of August, military training was given to more than 100 USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party) members and form of Pyu Saw Htee (militia) organization to strengthen security in town, reported the residents.