Pegu city residents sick of patrolling duty

 

By: Chan Mon


August 24, 2004

 

The SPDC authorities in Pegu city have forced the residents on a rotation basis to guard and patrol around their city for security and if the residents fail to perform their duties they have to pay, according to Pegu residents.

 

“The authorities forced at least two people even from a small city quarter (or city ward) for patrolling duty in their quarter everyday.   The conscription has taken for a long time,” Ms. Daw Saw said.

 

“We also have to pay 150 Kyat to patrolling police for the security fee, but we are still forced to patrol every night on a rotation basis. If we fail to perform then we have to pay 500 Kyat as fine to patrolling police or we have to hire substitute,” she explained.

 

“We are sick of patrolling. It is non-stop conscription. We are bored of patrolling,” said Mr. U Hlaing a community leader. Everyday about 100 people from all quarters in the city are forced to perform this patrolling duty, he added.

 

According to a Mon-san-pya resident, there are more than 10 people from their quarters have to perform this duty each day without payment and food.

 

The Quarter Peace and Development Council (QPDC) arranged to perform their duties on a rotation basis.   The QPDC authorities also have collected money for patrolling police every-month, according to Pegu residents.

 

“During the government is holding National Convention, the Pegu authorities had intensively forced the local residents to launch tight patrol and they had forced more people,” said Ms. Ma Maw Khaing.

 

“There are one or two persons were selected by the police from our Mon-san-pya to go with them for patrolling duty around the city at night,” said Mr. Min Naing who was forced for patrol.

 

“The police forced you as a guide to show the ways that they wanted to go and let you go in advance. If you refused, they will beat and fine you,” Mr. Min Naing added.

 

Pegu is a city situated in eastern of Rangoon and the city was also under flood recently.

 

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