Mon State Government’s 100-day traffic safety enforcement project, the Linn Yone Project, has led to cases of injustice and has had negative impacts on the public.
The Linn Yone Project (literally translated as the “crested serpent eagle” project) is the state government’s 100-day crack-down on drivers violating traffic law. The goal is to improve traffic safety and seize unlicensed vehicles within the 100 day period. Some people are critical of the program.
“It should be long term project, not just something they do when they want. It is necessary to close all the ways that unlicensed vehicles can come through. When they [traffic police officers] seize the vehicles, they should not seize only one side while letting other sides free. So, the question is, is it fair to not arrest those who are dealing [selling] unlicensed vehicles?,” said a local Sayardaw.
According to the statement released Monday by the state government, a week before starting the Linn Yone Project, the government provided 25 educational awareness activities. They fined and confiscated vehicles from 146 people. There were 20 vehicle accidents, 27 people were injured and 6 people died. The statement continued that six days after kicking off the Linn Yone Campaign, there had been 32 educational awareness activities, 2,620 seized and charged cases, 14 vehicle accidents, 13 injuries and 6 deaths.
“[We] accept Linn Yone project. It is acceptable to fine the motorists if they are traveling a long distance or traveling out of town without helmets. But now they [the police officers] are even fining the locals 30,000 Kyat for traveling from this shop to that shop. This is just oppressing the public. The officers are inspecting them as if they were the accused [murders and rapists]. They are even inspecting the color of your skin and your appearances,” said a resident of Thanbyuzayat.
The motorists who do not wear helmets will be fined 30,000 Kyat. According to those who have been fined, people without a helmet and license plate are fined up to 50,000 Kyat.
“Since they [traffic police officers] are checking and confiscating day and night, the locals who want to go nearby just can’t go. Some people want to pay homage to the pagodas in the evening, but this project is preventing them from going. It is also not easy to ride motorbikes at night with helmets. Since not many people go to the market, this causes loss for the sellers at the market. The officers are also stopping and seizing the vehicles from those who go nearby. Worse yet, since the motorbike owners, who live day-to-day, are [also] being charged 30,000 Kyat, this presents a great challenge to the public,” said Ko Thaw ZinChan, a resident of Mudon Town.
During this 100-day project, the locals who rely on side-car motorbikes for daily wages face difficulties. There is criticism about the project confiscating unlicensed vehicles, according to Colonel U Nay Htut Oo, Minister of Mon State Security and Border Affair, speaking at Monday’s press conference.
At the last Mon State Hluttaw meeting, the Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan, also stated that the government will carry out the campaign to ensure everyone wears helmets during the upcoming Thingyan festival.
