Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA)

November 10, 2003

Curfew law in the capital of Mon State

In order to prevent the possible the riot between the Buddhist monks and Muslim communities, Mon State’s regime authorities beef up the security in the capital of Mon State, Moulmein, and set a curfew law and bar the civilians’ movement at night.  

The authorities ordered the vendors in the capital to shut down all their shops at 9 o’clock at night.   All SPDC authorities, polices, firemen and members of USDA (Union Solidarity and Development Association – the regime’s hand-picked organization) are patrolling in all streets the whole night. 

They have guarded the Muslim’s mosques on a rotation basis and informed the civilians to not walk on roads at night. 

“If there is a festival, the people are allowed to walk on roads.   But when there is no festival, the nights are very quiet and nobody walk and all shops are close”, said by a local resident.

Setting the curfew order and taking patrol in the capital has taken for one week, but no sign of riot occurs.  The authorities propagandize that the Buddhist monks would attack the Muslim communities’ mosques in cities and villages. 

Similar setting of curfew orders and patrolling to prevent the possible riot are also taken place in another Townships in Mon State.