The military council has permitted government departments and security forces to use unlicensed vehicles with proper endorsements, following their earlier allowance for monasteries and monks to use such vehicles with approval from township Sangha committees. Starting from June 1, while implementing a nationwide crackdown on unlicensed cars and motorcycles used by civilians, the council first made an exception for religious institutions on June 4, followed by extending permissions to various government departments, including Pyu Saw Htee militia, people’s militia, military, and police personnel.
For government employees to operate unlicensed vehicles, they must obtain endorsement from their respective department heads, while security personnel require approval from their territorial commanders. Additionally, they must register with local traffic police and police stations. The permission is limited to official duties within their respective states/regions and townships, with no authorization for inter-regional travel. The vehicles can only be operated during official working hours. This selective enforcement highlights the discriminatory application of vehicle regulations between state-affiliated personnel and ordinary civilians.
Meanwhile, civilians continue to face arrests, imprisonment, and fines for using unlicensed vehicles, with their vehicles being confiscated. Following Min Aung Hlaing’s directive, there has been widespread extortion of civilians by military, police, and various departments across the country under the pretext of unlicensed vehicle enforcement. At a military council meeting in Naypyidaw on May 20, Min Aung Hlaing ordered strict enforcement against unlicensed vehicles, claiming they cause loss of state revenue and create security concerns. This dual policy of permitting unlicensed vehicles for state-affiliated personnel while cracking down on civilian users demonstrates the military council’s discriminatory approach to law enforcement and its continued oppression of the general population.
