Analysis Article — Ganyan
From home burglaries and vehicle robberies on the streets to killings committed during thefts, residents of Mon State are increasingly living with fear and anxiety as serious crimes become more frequent.
The fact that criminal activities are occurring repeatedly and with increasing boldness, even in busy urban areas, highlights the continued deterioration of local security mechanisms.
Although the nature of these incidents varies, the public has reached a point where residents must remain increasingly vigilant to protect themselves and their property.
Since the military coup, urban security in Mon State has largely relied on the police force, Pyu Saw Htee militias (junta sympathizers), and counterterrorism units, while in rural areas, security responsibilities have largely been assigned to local militias and administrative bodies.
The Minister for Home Affairs and Border Affairs has frequently instructed local authorities to establish and expand militia forces to carry out security-related duties in their respective areas.
However, according to people close to local administrative bodies, these expanded militia forces are focused less on protecting the public than on accompanying military operations and providing security for local gambling activities.
In urban areas, security forces primarily guard government offices and other official facilities, including ward administrative offices. Even nighttime patrols have increasingly focused on searching for people to meet military recruitment needs rather than protecting local communities. As a result, residents are increasingly left to fend for themselves.
Observers say weak accountability, declining territorial control, and the repeated release or pardoning of people convicted of theft without meaningful legal consequences have emboldened criminals.
A resident of Chaungzon said: “Motorcycle thefts happen almost every day. There are usually no major problems in town during the daytime, but at night we worry about being robbed. If the authorities properly investigated each case and arrested those responsible, these incidents would decrease. What I don’t like is that thieves are repeatedly released or pardoned.”
The military’s security system, which prioritizes maintaining its grip on power over upholding the rule of law, demonstrates its failure to genuinely prioritize public safety and raises serious questions about the authorities’ ability to address the growing security crisis.
As people can no longer rely on the relevant authorities for adequate protection, communities have increasingly been forced to take responsibility for securing themselves and their surroundings.
Residents are avoiding travel at night and staying away from isolated areas. Those who can afford it are also making their own security arrangements, including installing CCTV cameras.
The rise in theft, violent crime, and robbery can be attributed to several factors, including worsening economic hardship, sharply rising commodity prices, and gambling-related problems.
A socioeconomic report by the political research group Ramanya Institute also noted that prolonged armed conflict in the Mon region, combined with the failures and lack of accountability of the post-coup authorities, has severely damaged the social environment.
To help restore communities that have deteriorated under the current system, RICE has called on revolutionary forces, ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and community leaders in Mon State to develop and implement people-centered local policies and agreements aimed at improving socioeconomic conditions through self-reliant, community-driven approaches.
