Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA)

August 23, 2003

No grouping at night time in Mudon Township

The SPDC authorities in Mudon Township of Mon State ordered to village headmen and police officers to bar any grouping and talking at nighttime with objectives to stop people are contacting opposition groups and for security.

The Township ordered just instructed to the village headmen to bar all tradition grouping and talking among all ages of village.

However, the order has not must separate among the villagers and therefore, some young people are grouping and talking at nighttime according to the Mon ethnic tradition.

On August 22 night, while 4 young men are talking in Kamawet village of Mudon Township, the police officers in the village came and arrested them. They were detained for 6 hours in police station and later were released after paying 13000 Kyat fine to the police officer.

According to the police source, they arrested 4 young men with a reason to stop them having contacts with opposition groups (especially, NLD and NMSP) in the area and added that they would not allow any gathering of young men in village like before.

This is the first time order in the villages of Mudon Township and restrict the young men’s gathering.

The SPDC authorities and local police officers have been careful for anti-government demonstration. Therefore, they barred gathering at nighttime with a concern that the young men having contact with opposition and planned for anti-government campaign.