With the general elections in Burma drawing near, the military junta is closely monitoring the daily activities of people in their area of control in Karen state since early July, locals said.

It is learnt that the Burmese Army based in Tha Hton, Taungoo, Nyaung Lay Pin and Pha Pun district, have imposed restrictions like banning travel outside the village, collecting family lists, taking down parent's names, and collecting money since early this month.

Locals in Pha Pun Township have been banned from travelling to look for jobs by patrolling Burmese Army troops in various ways. Moreover, soldiers are demanding money from locals adopting different tactics, a Pha Pun local said.

"We have to sign at the army camp before we travel in Kwitamar, Walmu and Marlay areas in Dwello Township in Pha Pun district. We have to pay what they demand. We can travel only between 6 am and 4 pm. making it difficult for villagers to find jobs for survival," a local told KIC.

"Wherever villagers go, the army sends soldiers demanding money from villagers. The practice is rampant everywhere, where there are military camps," the Pha Pun local said.

Similarly, soldiers from IB 9 of the Burmese Army are checking locals for travel recommendation letters, ID cards, home numbers, names, age, parent's name, and so on since July 25. Soldiers demand 500 Kyat from each traveller in Beelin Township, Tha Hton district.

According to a KNU report, the Burmese Army IB 73 and battalions under MOC 7 took photographs of every villager and collected family lists in Laytaw and Pyinkar village in Htan Tapin Township, Taungoo district.

Locals in Warkhama Township are watched all the time by the Burmese Army since June 12, even if they go in and out of wards and villages, a local said.

"The Burmese Army has kept locals under surveillance in Warkhama Township. If a local is not found in his own place, he has to pay 1200 Kyat, especially, in Tayorktan (Chinese ward), Tayorkchaung village, and Taung Oo Chaung Pya village," a local told KIC.

Even though the army does not let the locals know about their activity, such a situation had occurred during the referendum on the 2008 constitution in Burma.