“That department has a lot of rubber nursery plantations from Mudon Town to Naing Hlone village. The armed group didn’t mention how much they ask but they said they will come today” a source close to the staff from that department.

If the department would not pay the amount of money they asked they will take action against the department, a source close to the armed group. But they did not say what action they will take.

On May 14, 2011 the armed group blasted the bomb Telecommunication department which located in front of Government Research and Multiply Rubber Department. During that time a police died from their shooting and another got injured. Both departments located outside of the town. A small bomb blast exploded at the same telecommunication office in July 2008, but there were no casualties, only damages to furniture and some areas of the building.

In the morning of July 11, the unknown Mon and Karen armed groups kidnapped a worker from a road construction at the highway from Moulmein to Ye, and asked 15 Million Kyat extortion from the company. The kidnapped workers was released last week, but the company didn’t pay it yet.

The extortion and kidnapping have been happening after the Burmese government and New Mon State Party ended their ceasefire in 2010, and the situation can be more terrible, said a local situation analyst.

According to private plantation owner, the rubber plantation owners from Mudon and Thanbyuzayat Townships are also afraid of extorting money by the Mon armed group.

Nai Than Lwin’ armed group fired a worker’s house belonged to by government rubber plantation between Mudon and Thanbyuzayat on July 17. The local Burmese army warned the workers to go back their homes according to a plantation owner.