August 12

 

Soldiers beat up people aboard passenger buses or private vehicles using mobile phones while traversing the Yangon-Naypyidaw highway road.

 

Highway buses drivers and conductors have been warning passengers on board not to use mobile phones near the inspection gates along highway roads, according to the passengers.

 

If the junta forces saw passengers using phones, they got on the buses and beat up the passengers with their guns.

 

"The conductors read out loud the list of the passengers at inspection gates. We have to show our NIC cards to them,” one passenger said.  “They (military) even checked the faces of the passengers who had fallen asleep. It is terrible. Some security forces were drunk."

 

Drivers have been paying money to the military personnel as well as the people in civilian clothes at the inspection gates in order not to disturb their vehicles.

 

Although there are notice boards installed at every inspection gate not to give money or bribe at the security forces guarding the gates, most of the passenger vehicles have been paying money to soldiers, said witnesses.

 

Burma Associated Press