Military council soldiers stationed at Linkawtaw camp, located between Myaing and Yeisagyo townships in Magway Region, are illegally seizing cattle owned by local civilians and demanding 10 bags of rice per cow for their return, according to local residents. Since early April, the soldiers have been systematically capturing cattle from surrounding villages and keeping them confined within their camp compound. The military personnel have established a system where they contact the cattle owners and set the exchange rate at 10 bags of rice per cow, with owners of two cattle being instructed to bring 20 bags of rice.
The military council troops based at Linkawtaw camp have also split into two columns to conduct night operations searching for supplies, which they transport back to their base. This aggressive foraging has severely impacted local communities, who are already struggling with displacement and economic hardship. The situation has become particularly dire as many residents from villages along the border of Myaing and Yeisagyo townships have been forced to flee their homes due to military operations, making it extremely difficult for them to reclaim their livestock.
Local residents report significant challenges in gathering the required amount of rice to recover their cattle, as the military council’s demands place an enormous burden on their already strained resources. The local population views these actions as deliberate attempts by the military council to undermine their economic survival and livelihood. The systematic seizure of livestock and demands for rice in exchange represent a pattern of economic pressure being applied to civilian populations in the area, further complicating the humanitarian situation for those affected by ongoing conflict in the region.
