There is no let up on the repressive measures the military authorities use on the people. Burmese Army troops have been forcing local people to work in army farms and at the same time extorting money from them.

At least three men and three pairs of cows in DayHbome, Wengtamort and Kyonekanyar villages were forced to work in farms belonging to Infantry Battalion No.31 based in Khawzar Sub-township .

"We don't know what to do. We don't dare complain against forced labour," a villager from Kyonekanyar told IMNA.

Villagers are being forced on a rotational basis from quarter to quarter for almost a month. "They have told us they will force us to work till the crops are harvested," the villager added.

Villagers were not paid anything while they worked at the army farm called Wae Haloit near Khawsar town.

Over the last two days, the army ordered the village headman in Yin Yae village, to collect 15,000 (about 13.5 U$) Kyat from each family.

According to sources close to the Yin Yae village headmen, at least 5.4 million Kyat (4369 U$) were collected from the villagers for the general expenditure of the army and the village clinic.

Similarly, Yin Yae villagers were forced to fence their village to guard against Mon rebels entering the village over the last three days on the orders of the army.

On the other hand, villages near the battalion are still ordered to send their motorcycles and family members on rotation to drive the soldiers around.