At first, KNU/KNLA-PC Major Soe Soe and General Latwae of the KNU summoned 48 rubber plantation owners from in and around Yethakon Village to attend a meeting on July 18th to discuss plantation issues. None of the plantation owners attended the meeting.

Major Soe Soe and General Latwae then posted the threatening signs around Yethakon Village and nearby areas. The signs read, “Warning: rubber plantation owners in Yethakon area must attend a meeting [with the Karen armed group] by 22.7.2014, and if they are not present there will be no responsibility [from the Karen armed group] if anything later happens to the plantations.” The notice was signed by KNU/KNLA-PC Major Soe Soe and KNU General Latwae.

After the signs were posted, plantation owners and farmers appealed to the NMSP for help. IMNA recently interviewed Captain Myo Htoy from the MNSP’s armed wing, the Mon National Liberation Army’s (MNLA). Captain Myo Htoy, who heads the MNLA’s Thanbyuzayat unit, told IMNA that “[Rubber plantation] farmers said they are happy that our men are on guard like this. They are fearful [of the Karen armed group]. We are also unhappy due to what they have faced.”

“Bo (General) Latwae and Ko Thar-nge are the ones who are causing this issue because they have demanded money from rubber plantation owners over and over again. How can they afford to pay such money? That is why they have requested help from the NMSP,” said a local Yethakon villager.

In an interview with IMNA, Moulmein District’s NMSP joint-battalion commander said that the NMSP’s Moulmein District unit will continue to provide security for rubber plantation owners and workers in the Yethakon area until the rubber trees are harvested.

“Next month it will be time to harvest the rubber trees. It will be much better if the NMSP provides patrols and security for the rubber farmers and workers, so there won’t be any concerns or dangers when harvesting the rubber trees,” said local rubber plantation owner Ko Soe Aung.