Curfew for cease

Curfew for cease-fire groups imposed

The military in Taunggyi has laid down a set of rules for the cease-fire groups residing in the city, said sources from northern Shan State yesterday. 

A meeting was held on 19 May when Maj. Min Lwin of Military Intelligence Detachment -2 (MI-2) read a six-point set of rules to the attending representatives of the cease-fire groups in the Shan capital. He said the regulations came down "from above". 

The rules were as follows: 

1. All identifications of each respective group on every motor vehicle must be erased; 

2. Members of all groups are forbidden from wearing military uniforms, with or without insignias, within city limits;

3. No motor vehicles shall be purchased or driven without official license;

4. All members must stay indoors from 22:00 -05:00;

5. No traveling members shall enter the city after 20:00;

6. No involvement in drugs.

Sources said so far nothing was heard about whether the groups concerned are following the order. " Anyway, it is difficult to imagine that the Wa are going to abide by it, especially with regards to Rule # 1,2 and 3", said a source.

"The authorities' main problem is with the Wa", said another. "It means other groups will toe the line only if the Wa does". 

Related News: # 5-23 "Cease fire groups ordered to remove emblems", 31 May.