In Myawaddy town, Karen State, located on the Thai-Myanmar border, curfew hours have been changed to run from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. According to the locals, loudspeaker announcements have been made to warn residents to strictly comply with the new regulations.
Previously, the curfew imposed by the military council was from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. However, residents said the order was tightened as clearance operations and military offensives in the area have intensified.
Since September 14th, local administrative teams have been driving through neighborhoods with loudspeakers to repeatedly announce the new restrictions.
“The curfew has been in place for a long time. But people still moved around anyway. Before, it was from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., now we heard it’s 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. So during those hours, no one dares to go out,” said a local resident.
Because of the new directive, restaurants, shops, convenience stores, and other businesses in Myawaddy have had to close within the restricted hours.
One resident noted that the enforcement may be intended to demonstrate the military council’s ability to maintain control in Myawaddy as the election approaches.
“Now, soldiers from the military council are back in Myawaddy town. They probably want locals to see that they can reassert control, so they ordered administrators to make these repeated warnings,” he said.
Despite the curfew, residents of Myawaddy frequently experience shootings, home invasions, robberies, disappearances, and assaults.
On August 27th, three members of a family in Myawaddy were shot by an unidentified gunman in their neighborhood, and the perpetrator has not yet been apprehended.
Currently, locals report that Myawaddy town is under the tight control of military council troops, together with the Border Guard Force (BGF) and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA). Security checks have been reinforced with additional checkpoints at the town’s entry and exit points.
Since regaining control of the Asian Highway route, the military council has been working to fully reestablish control over Myawaddy and the surrounding area.
