The New Mon State Party’s Thaton District no longer has adequate space to house drug users/criminals at its center.
The NMSP has taken on the drug issue as a national responsibility on behalf of the community. They have detained a growing number of individuals for illicit trade or use of drugs, and now there is no more space at the Thaton detention center.
NMSP published a documentary called, “The Drug is the Danger of Mon National” which has been getting a lot of attention on social media. NMSP’s documentary uses a series of interviews to illustrate the deep regret drug users have for becoming addicted to illicit drugs. The documentary also shows what happens when a person is charged and detained.
Nai Zaw Min Oo, a member of the Executive Committee with the Thaton District of NMSP, and who was featured in the documentary noted that drug use has become a very serious burden.
“We prefer [to go after] those who committed big[ger drug crimes]. If we arrest a lot [of drug users], it’ll be difficult to keep them at the detention center. After arresting them, one difficulty is [finding] a place to shelter them, and for their meals. So, sometimes, we try not to arrest individuals. If it is just for the cases of consuming drugs, arrests will not be made. This is because if arrested, there won’t be room for them, nor space for them to sleep. Also, the responsibility of cooking and providing meals for them has become huge,” said Nai Zaw Min Oo.
From March to the first week of May, (which coincided with the peak of Covid-19 prevention campaign activities) the NMSP’s Thaton District troops arrested and detained approximately 50 people for illicit drug use, at its base near KawBein and Min Ywa, Kawkareik Township, Karen State. Of those detained, 25% are women, including some who are pregnant and/or suffering from diabetes.
Although the village heads and elders in the community are working to dissuade local youth (some as young as 10 years old) from using drugs, these interventions are not proving effective.
“The parents can no longer tell [have an impact on them]. It is really a case that the parents can no longer make the kids change their habits. It is not just illicit drugs they use but also a kind of leaf they are using. I am glad that arrests have been made to get rid of such drug consumption,” said Mi Ngwe Htot, a villager from Wae-Rate Village, KawBein Village Tract, KawKareik Township, Karen State.
Another villager, Nai Soe Khine, added, “The parents are not in the village. They [young people] live with their grandparents. So this is where [drug dealing/using] happens. Their habits have become worse. This can affect their education too. Here, when we say a lot,– it is really a lot of cases. So, there must be serious actions taken.”
Drug is Mon National Enemy – Episode 1 https://www.facebook.com/NewMonStateNews/videos/262527134971301/
Drug is Mon National Enemy – Episode 2 https://www.facebook.com/NewMonStateNews/videos/605280790112301/
Mon News Agency Drug Documentary https://www.facebook.com/monnewsagencytv/videos/562388334375208/
