Military troops and local militia groups in Ye Township, Mon State, have been waiting along roads to arrest and extort fishermen returning home from Ahsin Village during the fishing industry suspension period, local residents said.
Since the first week of May, groups of fishermen from Ye Township have been returning to their villages after fishing operations were temporarily halted. Local residents said military troops and militia members have been conducting arrests at checkpoints near the entrance to Ye Town, including the Myohaung checkpoint and the Livestock Zone checkpoint.
A resident from Ahsin said fishermen without “10/” National Registration Cards were forced to pay tens of thousands of kyats, while those without any identification documents had to pay hundreds of thousands of kyats. Some were also arrested.
“They only inspect local residents casually. They mainly target fishermen who are not from the area. Most migrant workers there are from Ayeyarwady Region. This is the period when fishing operations stop and fishermen return from the sea, so the authorities see it as an opportunity,” the resident said.
Most offshore and inshore fishermen in Ye Township are migrant workers from Tanintharyi Region and Ayeyarwady Region. They work annually in fishing businesses in Ahsin, Zeehpyuthaung, and Daminseik villages through labor brokers.
A fisherman said many workers without identification documents are now afraid to return home, creating livelihood difficulties during the suspension period.
“We do not even know what happens to workers who return early without permission from boat owners. The soldiers wait there almost every day because they know they can get money. Many workers from Ayeyarwady, especially from remote coastal areas, do not have ID cards. Recently, even recommendation letters are no longer accepted in Lamaing area. They arrest people, and even drivers from Ye Town do not dare to transport them,” he said.
Fishing business owners in Ye Township usually recruit workers, sign contracts, and arrange labor cards in August before operations resume in September.
Fishing activities, both offshore and nearshore, are usually suspended during May, June, and July each year. Business operators said current travel restrictions could create labor shortages for the next fishing season.
Fishermen in Ye Township have frequently faced labor exploitation by brokers, human rights violations, human trafficking, and abuse at workplaces, which have also led to deaths in some cases.
