Junta asks to form 25-member village security team in Gwa

Khaing Lu Hla, Narinjara News, 19 May 2024

The junta forces have directed every village under Gwa township in the southernmost part of Rakhine State to form a village security team comprising 25 individuals. They also  collected training fees ranging from Kyats 20,000 to 30,000 from every family, said the residents.

"Since the evening of 17 May, village administrator 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, they are still not paying the amount. Now the junta soldiers have threatened to evict them from the village and even exclude them from the housing census.

The affected villages include Tha Phan Kwin, Chin Kwin, Pone Nyet, San Chaung, Gyeik Taung, Kaing Taw Kwin, Thae Kone and Kyauk Khauk Kwin.

"The farming activities have not yet resumed and the villagers now cannot rely on fishing. Thus they are surviving with no regular income for months. At this moment, they are asked to pay the fees. Meanwhile, the prices of goods have increased and they face a difficult situation now,” said a local woman.

Currently, the low quality one pyi of rice costs from Kyats 6,500 to 8,000. Some people are now surviving with broken rice.

One  litre of gasoline costs Kyats 7,000, a packet of instant coffee mix costs Kyats 400, one viss of onions costs Kyats 7,000, one viss of garlic costs Kyats 30,000 and one packet of Yum Yum noodles costs Kyats 1,000 now.

"In Gwa township, most village administrators are appointed by the junta and they are collecting Kyats 10,000 to 30,000 per household. They are asked to collect the amount by 20 May," said another resident.

Many residents who are not paying face arrest too. At least three people were arrested in Thae Kone village ten days back. Two individuals were arrested from Pone Nyet village as they were transporting fish pastes to Manaung by a boat.

“One of them had been selected for military service through a lottery. Now many villagers want to join the Arakha Army,” added the resident.