Residents of villages along the Gyaing River near the border between Mon State and Karen State, including Tarana, Thangkalone, Dhammasi, and Kawbein, have reduced their travel due to intensified security checks by military forces on roads connecting the villages.
Since the second week of July, military forces operating in the area have instructed residents not to travel outside their villages or move between villages from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Following the curfew order, military checkpoints inside and outside the villages have increased identity checks and questioning. A resident of Kyaikmayaw Township said inspections have been particularly strict for men.
“Previously, they were stationed at checkpoints where resistance forces had been based and conducted inspections. They check men very thoroughly. They ask people to open their motorcycle storage compartments and inspect them. They harass people. It had been a long time since they carried out checks like this, but now the inspections have become much stricter,” the resident said.
As a result, residents have had to return home before the curfew hours, while even daytime travel has declined.
Residents said military regime forces have increased personnel at their positions and continue to conduct patrols inside villages, including around 8 p.m.
Local residents are also facing difficulties traveling along the main road between villages such as Kawbein and Khrone Gu due to the increasing number of checkpoints.
“Because there are so many checkpoints, it has become very difficult for local people to travel. Even those traveling for urgent medical reasons are questioned and harassed. There have been many cases of phones being confiscated and money being taken. It also causes significant delays,” a resident from the Gyaing River area said.
Residents believe the tightened security measures were introduced after an unidentified armed group attacked military forces stationed at Chaung Wa Pagoda in Kawbein village on June 12.
Although inspections and patrols have increased since the curfew was imposed, no local residents have reportedly been arrested so far.
According to a Kyaikmayaw Township representative who spoke during a Mon State parliament session, hundreds of unofficial checkpoints operate between Mon State and Karen State, where travelers are reportedly subjected to excessive demands for money.
