Village administrators in several villages along the Gyaing River area on the border of Mon and Karen states have imposed a nighttime curfew since April due to growing security concerns, according to local residents.
The curfew was imposed following a series of arrests and disappearances in the region, as well as ongoing arrests of village administrators and people close to the military junta by local armed groups.
On May 9, village administrators announced the curfew through loudspeakers and vehicles, instructing residents not to go outside between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., according to a resident from Khayar Ahpyin village.
“Last Saturday, the administrators drove around the village making announcements with loudspeakers. They said it was for security reasons. Right now, village administrators are disappearing one after another. Even without the curfew, both residents and administrators are already afraid to go outside at night. This area has long been unsafe, and now people are even more frightened,” the resident said.
In late April, Nai Karen, a resident of Kawtbein village who had worked for a military junta media department based in Kawkareik, was arrested and later died. In addition, on May 6, newly appointed Kawtbein village secretary Nai Myint Aung and Nai Hla Tun, the chairperson of Nawnghkit village, were arrested and remain missing, according to local sources.
A resident from the Gyaing River area said there are concerns that local administration will become difficult because no one is willing to take village administrator positions due to fear.
“In some villages, nobody dares to take responsibility because they are afraid. So residents have had to persuade trusted individuals to accept the positions. Those selected do not necessarily want the role, but every village still needs an administrative body,” the resident explained.
The resident also urged local armed groups not to arrest village administrators based only on suspicion and to take action only when there is clear evidence that someone is acting as a military informant.
At least 10 villages are located along the Gyaing River area, including Kawtbein, Kawtpauk, Kawtpalaing, Dhammatha, Thankalaung, Taranar, Nawnghkit, Min Ywar, Khayar Atwin, and Khayar Ahpyin villages.
Currently, the military junta is leading the appointment of local administrative bodies in those villages, while the administrative sector is also being managed in some areas controlled by the New Mon State Party (Thaton District), according to local sources.
