Khaing Lu Hla
The junta forces have directed every village under Gwatownship in the southernmost part of Rakhine State to form a village securityteam comprising 25 individuals. They also collected training fees rangingfrom Kyats 20,000 to 30,000 from every family, said the residents.
"Since the evening of 17 May, villageadministrator U Ko Than and his team are collecting money from the households,”said a resident of Yadanar Myaing village under Gwa township.
As many villagers are facing financial problems, theyare still not paying the amount. Now the junta soldiers have threatened toevict them from the village and even exclude them from the housing census.
The affected villages include Tha Phan Kwin, ChinKwin, Pone Nyet, San Chaung, Gyeik Taung, Kaing Taw Kwin, Thae Kone and KyaukKhauk Kwin.
"The farming activities have not yet resumed andthe villagers now cannot rely on fishing. Thus they are surviving with noregular income for months. At this moment, they are asked to pay the fees.Meanwhile, the prices of goods have increased and they face a difficultsituation now,” said a local woman.
Currently, the low quality one pyi of rice costs fromKyats 6,500 to 8,000. Some people are now surviving with broken rice.
One litre of gasoline costs Kyats 7,000, apacket of instant coffee mix costs Kyats 400, one viss of onions costs Kyats7,000, one viss of garlic costs Kyats 30,000 and one packet of Yum Yum noodlescosts Kyats 1,000 now.
"In Gwa township, most village administrators areappointed by the junta and they are collecting Kyats 10,000 to 30,000 perhousehold. They are asked to collect the amount by 20 May," said anotherresident.
Many residents who are not paying face arrest too. Atleast three people were arrested in Thae Kone village ten days back. Twoindividuals were arrested from Pone Nyet village as they were transporting fishpastes to Manaung by a boat.
“One of them had been selected for military servicethrough a lottery. Now many villagers want to join the Arakha Army,” added theresident.
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