Forced monetary contribution

DVB ( July 3, 2003 )

It is reported that in order to build the Pa-an_Khaya Bridge which connects Karen and Mon States, the Burmese army is forcing the local people to contribute to the expenses. Each household is forced to pay 10,000 kyats and the villagers are pawning their houses and lands to fulfil the demands.

DVB’s Khaing Thazin reports:

Khaing Thazin : On the 22nd of June, the chairman and secretary of Zapyin Village authority in Karen State, Ko Kyi Win and Ko Hla Nyein were ordered by the local army, Battalion 81 to collect 10,000 kyats from each household from villagers from the nearby villages. The Pa-an-Khaya Bridge connects the Karen State with Mon State and it is to be built for goods carrying trucks and passenger carrying buses.

Moreover, an army officer is coming to inspect the bridge on the 5th of July and each household is forced to contribute one person for forced labour to clean the road for cars and motorcycles. The SPDC authorities in Mon and Karen States and Tenesserim Divisions are still forcing local people to contribute money and ‘voluntary’ labour to the government projects in many places.