Mon communities are still being forced to support militias that were created under the former military regime. Residents of Minnthar, Moe-gyi, and Lae-gyi villages and parts of Yepyu Township, and Tennaserism Division all have to give rice or money to local strongmen. Residents of Ye, Thanbyuzayat, Mudon and Kyaikmayaw townships are also required to support the militias.
The militias that are usually comprised of about 10 people work hand in hand with corrupt municipal officials.
“In our village, men from militia have been extorting rice from us every year since the previous military governments existed. We don’t want to provide them with it anymore. As we’ve already transformed into a democracy, we can’t accept what the military government used to do in the past,” said one Minnthar villager.
Minnthar, Moe-gyi, Lae-gyi and Zinzwar villages are required to give 100 bags of rice for each village; Kya-khat must provide 60 bags and 40 bags from Ye-ngen-gyi.
U Hla Aung, a village Administrator will visit every home with the local militia to tell residents where exactly they are to bring their bags of rice to, according to the abbot in Minnthar Village.
“If the villagers do not bring the rice to the required place, the militia will come to frighten them just like during the time of military government,” said the abbot.
Around 2 weeks ago, the Mon Peace and Defense Front (MPDF) and Mon People Militia Force No. 2 Battalion both sent letters to local sawmill owners requesting financial support for members.
At a recent meeting of Pyithu Hluttaw (People Parliament), Brigadier General Aung Taw, the vice-minister of defense ministry, revealed there are around 5,035 militias still in operation around the country. These groups have broken many laws that include intimidation, extortion and smuggling, Hlutaw representative U Sai Thiha said.
