The military council forces are collecting 200,000 Kyats from each car fleeing from northern Shan State, at the checkpoints near the entrance to Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, said those who have personally encountered it.
Since the second week of July during the second round of “Operation 1027”, police, soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee members have been collecting money from cars carrying displaced people fleeing from northern Shan State to Taunggyi.
A woman who experienced it said: We can’t negotiate at all. The amount they collect should be reasonable. 200,000 Kyats is equivalent to a month’s house rental fee.”
The junta forces are collecting money at 4th mile checkpoint at the entrance of Taunggyi, Ganaingraway checkpoint near Phayaphyu ward and Pawmu checkpoint. Each group of two or three displaced families is required to pay an average amount at these checkpoints.
In the past, the entrance roads to Taunggyi remained open without checkpoints. Currently, all these roads are blocked. Those who cannot afford to pay 200,000 Ks are leaving for other towns.
A woman who fled from Lashio to Taunggyi said: “I had to pay 100,000 Ks when fleeing to Taunggyi. I heard that recently, they have started collecting 200,000 Ks. Most of the displaced people will pay it. Taunggyi is a good place to earn a living. We can work as staff or open shops. The people can do nothing in other towns. They have to rely on donations.”
The IDPs have warned that the people should not come to Taunggyi with the high-model four-wheeled four-seater cars as the military council have been requisitioning these vehicles and sending them to the frontlines.
Since the second round of Operation 1027, which launched on 25 June, most of locals from Lashio, Hsipaw, Mongmit, Nawnghkio and Myaukme Townships in northern Shan State, as well as Mogok in Mandalay Region have fled to Taunggyi in southern Shan State. As a result, the house rental fees have skyrocketed, the IDPs said.
Sent by NMG