On September 15th, the Myeik Township Administration Office made an announcement that if two men ride a motorcycle together, the motorcycle will be impounded and the riders will be subject to a fine. If they attempt to flee, they may be subject to gunfire.
On the night of the order, a father and son returning from work were stopped by the junta’s police and soldiers patrolling the town. They demanded money, and when the father and son responded, a junta member struck them with a gun and confiscated their motorcycle. They were ransomed for 3 lakh kyats.
The day the order was issued, approximately ten military junta members attempted to chase down a motorcycle carrying two men near the traffic light at the Myeik Township airport.
The ban is thought to be linked to the stand-off with the PDF, in both Myeik and Palaw townships, according to a Myeik resident.
However, the ban is being enforced in a haphazard manner and technically has been in place in Myeik since November 2021. Despite the ban, it is acceptable for a man and women, or two women to ride together.
A 20-year-old Myeik resident said, “The situation of riding a motorcycle is more or less normal during the day. At night, we have to be more careful.”
