Pyu saw htee militia extorts villagers through sentry fees, conscription taxes in Myingyan Township

Pyu saw htee militia members operating under the female commander Thida Yu Mon are extorting money from local residents through a range of schemes in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region, according to local sources. A member of the Myingyan Public Movement Committee told Mizzima that every household in nearby villages, including Ywar See, Thein Kone, and Thae Phyu Wa, is forced to pay under various pretexts, such as sentry duty fees, conscription taxes, and gate fees for transporting foodstuffs. “They demand 10,000 MMK (approx. US$3.2) every three days per household as a sentry fee, totaling over 100,000 MMK (approx. US$32) monthly. They also extort residents returning from town with bulk purchases of rice and oil, and collect money from those coming out of the Yae Lal Kyun area, claiming it is to feed the ‘dogs’ [soldiers],” the member said. A local resident detailed the extortion rates: 10,000 MMK (approx. US$3.2) every three days for sentry fees; 40,000 MMK (approx. US$13) every three months for conscription; 5,000 MMK (approx. US$1.6) per rice sack and 5,000 MMK per oil container for vehicles bringing foodstuffs from town; and 5,000 to 10,000 MMK (approx. US$1.6 to 3.2) per household for rations for junta soldiers frequently entering the villages. “We can no longer bear these frequent collections under various pretexts. They come door-to-door with weapons, leaving us no choice but to pay whatever we have. For households that cannot afford it, they shout, threaten, and cause trouble until they are paid,” the resident told Mizzima. Local farmers are facing severe livelihood hardships due to the ongoing extortion, residents said.Locals added that Pyu Saw Htee groups under Thida Yu Mon’s leadership in Myingyan Township not only extort money but also burn down villages and commit acts of violence and harassment against civilians.