18 months after the coup, robbery in Yangon has worsened

18 months after the military coup, looting and looting in Yangon Robbery Residents of Yangon say that pickpocketing has worsened, making them feel unsafe even walking during the day.

Last month, an apartment in North Dagon Township, Yangon, was stolen in broad daylight and 200,000 was stolen, Ko Sai told RFA.

"One building is only two feet away from the other, so it's stuck together, so it's possible to climb up. So the assistant came up. I entered from the veranda. I didn't close the inner door. As usual, he sleeps open. It's been three years since I moved to this house. I have never lost any items. Because it happened after this side, there are parts where there is no law and order. That night I was robbed of 200,000. Before that, a motorcycle was stolen."

Every city Every neighborhood Kosai also warned that it is necessary to always think about how to protect yourself if there are robberies on every street.

"Should I be afraid of stealing? Do I have to be afraid of being questioned on the street? "

At present, in North Dagon Township, after 6:00 p.m., everyone is cautious. After 8:00 p.m., the streets are almost deserted.

Currently living in Yangon, do I have to be afraid of robbers when I go out on the street? A woman from Sanchang Township, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said that she no longer knows whether to be afraid of the police and soldiers who are interrogating her.

"Should I be afraid of stealing? Do you have to be afraid of being questioned on the street? I'm in a position where I'm not comfortable with myself because I'm bold enough to go. It will get worse later. What people will say is that it will get worse. Money is very scarce. When the jobs are not convenient, the day-to-day workers, regardless of the job they have, cannot go to work because the factories are closed. When you can't go and have no more income, what can you steal from the environment? A lot of thoughts come in about which one to take.”

People don't go out at all unless there's something important to do, and those who have to go out because of business, are anxious and nervous. Residents of Yangon said that they could only see them moving quickly.

A taxi driver in Yangon, who did not want to be named for security reasons, told RFA that even though he is a taxi driver for a living in this modern age, he is always aware of the danger to his life.

"Even though we are driving right now, we are in danger. They drive because they can't. Be careful, of course. If there is a suspicious situation in my mind, no matter how much money I pay, I won't post it. I want to order. I want money. However, if I feel suspicious in my mind, I will stop posting them. I drove by myself. Until then, we can avoid it. If it's more than that, I can't avoid it anymore."

He said that the current situation in Yangon, in addition to robberies on the street, even if he walks down the street in the yard of his house, he is robbed by a chainsaw in the environment where he lives.

In August, the driver of a taxi in Yangon was kidnapped while escorting a passenger. On August 7th, the kidnapper threatened to kill the person and set the car on fire.

The taxi owner, who did not want to be named, revealed to some media that it was true and that he had paid tens of thousands of dollars.

RFA tried to contact General Zaw Min Tun, who is allowed to speak to the military council about these issues, but he refused to answer. In the past, General Zaw Min Tun had replied that these thefts and robberies could be reported to the district administrative offices, and that cases of police responsibility could be reported to the relevant police stations.

A woman from Yangon told RFA that now even if there is a case due to the security situation, people cannot go directly to the police station.

“There is something about them not going with the uniform because they are afraid of themselves. Another thing is that they don't dare to go outside the police station compound. For example, even if I go directly, they don't dare to follow. Either the head of the house in my ward, You can trust them if you communicate through the chairman. If they called and called, they came. We can't go directly. I was asked to go back to the ward and inform the head of the house."

Because of these conditions, people had to take off their jewelry when they went out, the woman said.

Military Council Spokesman General Zaw Min Tun told RFA in January of this year that it is not true that cases cannot be opened at all police stations.

Dr. Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a political analyst, said that the rule of law can only be achieved if trust can be built between the people and the government.

"The agreement between the people and the military council, which is said to be the ruler, Belief is no longer there. If something like this happens to us because we are no longer there, it will not be as easy for the public to go and ask for help. Just like the people on the other side need to be looked after. There are doubts on their side as to whether it is the people who oppose them. That's why we've always thought these stories were going to happen from the beginning.”

There is a social contract between the ruler and the ruled people. The ruler is responsible for the safety of the people. For this reason, Dr. Sai Kyi Zin Soe commented that there will be rule of law and security only if the people can build a mutually dependent situation. Currently, there is no such situation in Myanmar.