“Myanmar Spring Chronicle – May 16 Overview”,
published by MoeMaKa on May 17, 2025*:
Rising Crime and Lawlessness After the Coup
Since the military coup, crime rates have surged while the rule of law has collapsed. Over time, things have gotten progressively worse, as seen in both news reports and everyday conversations among urban residents.
Knife-point robberies now occur almost daily across multiple towns. Incidents have been reported in Mandalay, Monywa, Naypyidaw, Yangon, Mawlamyine, Taunggyi, and more.
From gold shop robberies and mobile phone stores being raided to home invasions where women and children were murdered, the types of crimes being committed are increasingly brutal.
Crime in Both Junta and Resistance-Controlled Areas
While most of these incidents happen in junta-controlled cities, some are also occurring in PDF-controlled areas.
Carjackings, murder of drivers, and robbing food delivery personnel for their vehicles or phones are becoming distressingly common. Some victims are simply beaten and left for dead for having a phone or cash.
A recent case involved a retired university lecturer who worked in real estate—murdered in Pyin Oo Lwin for her car and jewelry.
Another involved a young woman visiting Shwepyithar before moving abroad for work. She was raped, murdered, and her body dumped by a group of young men.
These crimes are no longer shocking; they’ve become a grim routine. Most people now accept them as normal news, simply because such stories surface so frequently.
No Place is Truly Safe
These violent crimes are happening not only in cities, but also in war-torn areas, displacement camps, and temporary shelters. Rape, child sexual assault, and murders have become increasingly horrifying.
One tragic case occurred near Laiza, Kachin State, where three young girls were raped and murdered in a displacement camp. The KIA sentenced the perpetrator to death.
In another case, MNDAA executed five people involved in armed robbery and murder in Lashio—carried out after a military tribunal-style proceeding, without appeal or due process.
As formal justice systems collapse, armed groups are now acting as judge, jury, and executioner—a troubling norm amid the chaos of war.
No Law, No Safety
Urban dwellers now live in fear of daily crime, while rural communities face not only conflict-related violence but also criminal threats. Even though many of these robberies and murders are reported, there is often no follow-up, no investigation, no justice.
Police are either absent or sidelined, especially in regions outside military control. Legal systems have eroded, and arrests or trials are increasingly arbitrary or entirely absent.
Why is This Happening?
One cause is the vacuum of governance and law enforcement. Since the coup, both sides—junta and resistance—have prioritized military and political agendas over civilian safety.
Police, once a civilian force, have been weaponized by the junta to support military operations and suppress resistance. In turn, many police officers have been attacked or killed by resistance groups, further weakening law enforcement.
Unpunished Crimes Fuel More Crime
The junta has repeatedly released thousands of convicted criminals, claiming to reduce prison overcrowding. But these releases—often done while thousands of political prisoners remain jailed—have contributed to a sharp rise in crime.
Some of the released convicts include violent offenders, who return to society with no rehabilitation and no supervision.
People Are Left Defenseless
Ordinary people now have no reliable means to protect themselves. Community policing is nearly impossible in this environment. The public is being left to absorb the consequences of widespread lawlessness.
Even in cities like Mandalay, already devastated by earthquakes, robbery, assault, and murder continue unabated—offering little hope for recovery.
Final Thoughts
The junta is not just failing to ensure public safety—it is actively worsening the situation. Its practice of granting amnesty to violent criminals, while keeping political prisoners locked up, is a deliberate assault on rule of law.
People are suffering not just from war, but from the total breakdown of legal and social order. Without protection, stability, or recourse, they are trapped in a cycle of fear, injustice, and impunity.
This is not just a security issue. It is a humanitarian one. And it’s only getting worse.