Military Council Administrators Tell Residents Not to Post on Social Media If They Catch Thieves in Lashio

Mekong, July 27 In Lashio city, northern Shan State, military council administrators have told the public to quietly hand over thieves they apprehend themselves to the police, without posting them online. Currently, the public frequently apprehends various types of thieves themselves, and the military council administrators stated that posting these apprehensions online damages the town's reputation. "It is true that a meeting was called and this was discussed. We are grateful that thieves are caught. However, posting about catching thieves online damages the town's reputation. That's why we told them to hand them over to the police quietly without posting online. The public did not respond to this instruction, but they did not seem to agree," said a resident of Lashio city. As instructed by the Lashio Township General Administration Department, a meeting was held in each ward on July 25, with one person per household for ward security, and ward administrators included this point in their discussions. "They also said that if bad news that lowers the town's reputation is posted, action will be taken. They did not explain what kind of bad news it is. It is unclear whether they are referring to false news or news about theft and robbery," said a source. In Lashio city, on July 22, a drug addict threatened passersby with a gun; on July 17, a motorcycle thief; and on July 14, a car thief were all apprehended by the public. In Lashio city, which is under the control of the military council, theft and robbery incidents are occurring frequently, and some incidents have resulted in fatalities. On July 19, thieves broke into a house in Ward 10 of Lashio city, stole property, and also killed two residents inside the house.