Myanmar’s military has stepped up its targeting of properties belonging to individuals linked to anti-regime groups.
A member of a local People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Yangon Region’s Thongwa Township said that his home and place of business were both sealed off by regime forces last week.
Maung Thein, 42, told Myanmar Now that some 80 soldiers raided his house and a teashop that he operates twice last Thursday before making them both completely inaccessible.
“They took all the food, furniture and money they could find. Anything they didn’t take they destroyed. Then they blocked all the surrounding roads. They even went poking around in the yard,” he said.
He added that the home of his father, who is wanted by the regime on charges of incitement, was also raided and robbed the same day. The entire family is now in hiding, he said.
“I’m not sad about my house, but what really upsets me is that everyone, including my neighbours, is just ignoring this,” he added.
In a statement regarding the incident, the Thongwa Youth Force said that resistance groups active in the area would not be deterred by recent measures to neutralize them.
“Our group was built from scratch and even if they put us back to square one, we will build it up again, as we know what it takes. Thongwa will not let the country down,” the group said in its statement released on Sunday.
The military has recently stepped up its targeting of properties owned by individuals taking part in the resistance movement against the regime that seized power on February 1.
In September, the junta announced plans to seize the property of fugitive members of the shadow National Unity Government and the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. The regime has designated both groups as terrorist organizations.
Several members of the National League for Democracy, the ousted ruling party, say that their homes have also been sealed off by the junta.
Kyi Myint, a lawyer who was contacted for comment on the legality of this practice, said that the regime was overstepping its authority.
“They can legally seal buildings while the owner is still a fugitive, but they have absolutely no right to seize or destroy furniture or other property inside them,” he said.
source myanmar-now