Security Tightens and Tension Mounts after Bombings in Rangoon

After the latest bomb blasts in Rangoon, the military regime has tightened security in the capital city. People in crowded teashops avoid talking about the attacks for fear that police or government authorities are monitoring them.

 

Residents and political observers say that authorities in Rangoon have been carefully searching houses where they suspect terrorists are hiding. Rumors of some arrests made in connection with the bombings have been spread in some corners of Rangoon, but they cannot be confirmed. Ethnic Karen communities living on the outskirts of Rangoon are also under heavy surveillance, journalists in Rangoon reported.

 

Authorities are eager to catch the culprits. Police distributed leaflets Tuesday at major road junctions and other public places, which offered a reward for any information on the bombings. “Anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the bombers will be given a reward of 10 million kyats (US $10,500),” says the leaflet.

 

Police had previously offered a 5 million kyat reward, but the Police Chief Brig-Gen Khin Yi told reporters at a press conference on Sunday that the reward would be doubled “to give a greater incentive to the public” to help.

 

On May 7, 2005, three bombs exploded nearly simultaneously in Rangoon at crowded shopping areas frequented by foreigners. According to government figures, 19 people were killed and more than 160 were injured.

 

A few days after the bomb blasts, authorities began to crack down on civilian drivers pretending to be army officers by placing caps on their car dashboards to intimidate traffic police and avoid getting tickets. 

 

Observers said that the junta suspected that rebel groups might have pretended to be army officers and then infiltrated the tightly controlled city.

 

Automobiles with special entry passes to government buildings are also being thoroughly checked. “There is a deep-seated mistrust among government officials,” said one Burmese observer speaking to The Irrawaddy from the capital. Some dissident groups maintain that the bombs were planted because of internal conflicts within the military leadership.

 

A police officer based in Rangoon said it is a common practice among some civilians to place army officers’ caps and other official markings on their cars. "Some civilians also use a ceasefire group's badge or sticker on their cars," said the policeman. Ethnic ceasefire groups in Burma have special privileges to enter the city and conduct business. 

 

Sources in Rangoon said that business people who have contracts with the military government's toll gates and bridges are also losing out. Civilians pretending to be military officers, as well as some members of ethnic ceasefire groups do not have to pay taxes for toll gates.

 

Meanwhile, the United States issued a travel warning on 17 May.