The village-tract administrators in Mawlamyinegyun Township, Ayeyarwady Region, summoned the heads of households from four villages and threatened to expel them if they failed to pay the military training fee, said some of those who attended the meeting.
On 9 December, U Yin Htay, the junta-appointed administrator of Phoe Thar Aye village-tract in Mawlamyinegyun Township, made this statement during a meeting in Phoe Thar Aye village, according to locals.
A resident of Kan Su village in Phoe Thar Aye village-tract said, “They are collecting 25,000 Kyats per household for military service. They didn’t clarify whether it’s a one-time or a monthly payment. They also threatened to expel villagers who fail to pay, saying they would call the army to remove them from the village.”
According to the villagers, Phoe Thar Aye village-tract consists of four villages—Phoe Thar Aye, Pan Kha Wa, Kan Su, and Khu Man—home to over 400 households.
A villager from Phoe Thar Aye said, “When this guy (administrator Yin Htay) gets drunk, he says that those who support the People’s Defense Force (PDF), talk about politics, or treat him with disrespect need to be cautious. He yells and threatens to take severe action against them.”
U Yin Htay’s father was a notorious former administrator who transferred his position to his son in collaboration with the military council, according to sources close to the administrative body.
A local from Khu Man village said, “He keeps saying that the son must be sharper than his father. The money collected for the military service fee is just for him to pocket. No one dares to speak out because he is very close to the army.”
A joint force of administrator Yin Htay, junta soldiers, police and militia, is conducting checks on bicycles, motorbikes and vehicles, at the signboard at the entrance of Pan Kha Wa village. They are collecting 15,000, 30,000 and 100,000 kyats, citing various reasons, local residents said.
Sent by NMG