Following instructions from military council leader Min Aung Hlaing, state and regional Sangha councils have issued directives prohibiting monasteries and nunneries from harboring unlicensed vehicles. The military council began a special operation to seize unlicensed cars and motorcycles starting June 1st, leading to these directives after people started parking their unlicensed vehicles inside monastery compounds to avoid seizure.
State and regional military councils have requested township, district, and state-level Sangha councils to prevent monasteries and nunneries from accepting unlicensed vehicles. Additionally, the directive prohibits the use of unlicensed vehicles bearing religious registration (RLG) marks. Currently, the military council is even seizing vehicles with religious registration marks despite their special status.
However, in Karen and Mon States, while the military council is actively seizing civilians’ unlicensed vehicles, they are not taking action against unlicensed vehicles belonging to Border Guard Forces (BGF), people’s militia groups, military personnel, police, and government department staff. In Hpa-an Township, local residents report that military and police forces dare not seize unlicensed vehicles belonging to BGF members, and government staff are allowed to freely operate unlicensed motorcycles.
In Mawlamyine, Mon State, while government departments have been instructed to impound their unlicensed vehicles and cease their operation for one month, relevant military and police forces have informed that no action will be taken against vehicles associated with government staff. Motorcycle shops in the area continue to sell unlicensed motorcycles as usual, indicating selective enforcement of the regulations.
