(IMNA: November 19, 2003)

Government troops in Mudon and Thanphyuzayat townships run gambling outfits during drama shows in the villages.

In cooperation with the local authorities, senior officers of the Burma Army troops hire San Metta, Chit Yazar and Nan Thapye drama groups to perform in local Mon villages. Even though the drama groups are unpopular in the Mon community, the military officials force local people to go the shows while the Army runs a gambling business to collect illegal tax, says a local source.

While the Mon villagers have no desire to watch the show in Burmese, Burman entertainers are forced to perform their singing in Mon native songs with very little pronunciation, a local source added.

The military officials charged one Nee-Doung (typical gambling game) for Kyat 25,000, one An-Galone table was charged for Kyat 5,000 and Card Player is charged for Kyat 1,000 per night.

The senior officials of the government troops have conducted over 30 shows in Mon villages and plan other shows in southern Ye township.

The drama shows are performed in public gathering grounds where villagers do not have to pay any admission fee while the troops charge to gambling business owners.

The local Police Force in Thanphyuzayat also runs similar gambling (cock fighting) events in the town to collect illegal cash from gamblers in the community.