A Burmese Army officer based in southern Mon state has ordered people in the area to stop working outside their villages. The ostensible reason behind the move was to prevent Mon rebels from contacting people.

The Infantry Battalion No.299 based in Ko-mile village, Ye township issued the order recently, following a firefight with insurgents from Monland Restoration Party. Four soldiers of the Burma Army, including a captain were killed.

Ko-mile villagers told IMNA, that Ko-mile and Marn Ong villagers were prohibited to go to work in plantations and farms. Some villagers claimed it was one way of making money by the soldiers where they have been demanding payment for issuing permits to villagers to go outside the village to work. Curfew has been imposed on these villages.

"Some army officers came to a computer shop and printed hundreds of permits," a computer shop staff said.

The Burma Army in southern Ye township regularly issues such orders and imposes curfew because Mon insurgents are active in the area.

Last week, Mon rebels ambushed troops from Burma Army's Infantry Battalion No.31 based in Khawzar town. Three Mon insurgents and four government soldiers were killed while a villager was shot dead.

The Mon insurgents lost a number of guns and a list which had details of the funding the rebels received during the clash.