Mawlamyine, 3 December
The regime forces’ extortion has worsened at the checkpoints along the Mawlamyine-Yangon highway and in front of their military outposts, travelers and drivers told Than Lwin Times.
After the coup, the junta set up at least 10 checkpoints along the Mawlamyine-Yangon highway for security reasons and extorted money from travelers and vehicles.
At the moment, the regime troops have been asking for 1000-5000 Kyats from each vehicle and 300–5000 Kyats from cargo trucks even in front of their battalions along the highway.
According to sources, the junta army delays the unpaid vehicles for a variety of reasons.
A driver told Than Lwin Times that there are no checkpoints along the Mawlamyine-Yangon highway that do not extort money, and it costs about 70,000 kyats for at least one route.
The junta chief claimed in June that the high commodity prices were due to unnecessary costs at the gates, and he instructed state and regional officials to be especially strict on the issue, but his subordinates didn’t follow the instructions.
The Mawlamyine-Yangon Pyidaungsu Highway is a major thoroughfare for travelers and exporters in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region, with thousands of vehicles passing through it daily.
News-Than Lwin Times
Photo-CJ