Junta forces people to buy VCDs

_{By: Lieng Lern}
 
On 15 January 2008, at 9:00 am, Mong Yang township officer U Win Sein and police camp commander, U Kyaw Nyein went to the surrounding villages for sale of the Burmese karate VCDs.
 
A villager from Mong Yang said, "The VCDs price in the market is only 1,000 Kyat (US $1) but the Burmese military force us to buy 1 VCD per 2,500 Kyat (US $ 2.5)".
 
The VCD is about a heroic policeman fighting against criminals.  They have been produced by the Taunggyi police force and sent to Keng Tung regional chief.  The chief then distributed them to township police units. 
 
At Mong Yang township, 15 VCDs are sold to each of the 11 villages. However, village headmen have to pay the money in advance before selling the VCDs to villagers.  The headmen then will collect the money back from the villagers depending on the population of the villagers.
 
"There are 165 discs altogether and the person who forces us to buy the VCDs is U Win Sein and U Kyaw Nyein, who collect the money from the village headman first. Both of them have earned 412,500 Kyat (about US $ 400)", he added.
 
Mong Yang Township consists many ethnics such as Shan, Lahu, Palaung, Ahka and different people of different religions such as Christians and Buddhists, who call it home.