Burmese authorities restrict sex workers in Mon State
Banyol Kin
Independent Mon News Agency
11 August 2006

Burmese authorities have restricted sex workers in Mon State and are
making arrests. The authorities are worried that many poor people would
become involved in the sex trade.

“Yesterday they (authorities) arrested five women who are in the sex trade
on the road in Moulmein, Mon State, I don’t know what they are going to
do” said a resident.

According to the resident in Moulmein, nowadays there are more prostitutes along the narrow streets in Moulmein than before.

Prostitution is banned in Burma. But many prostitutes work as waitresses
and sell sex. When the police come to arrest them, while they are sitting
on the road waiting for customers, they just run away. If they are unable
to run they get arrested, explained the resident.

To end sex trade in Mon State and border areas, the Burmese central
government has ordered local authorities to take serious action to arrest
sex workers.

The authorities arrested the leader of prostitutes, Daw Win in Three
Pagodas Pass Township, Karen State two months ago and sent her to jail for one and-a-half years, according to a source close to her.

Some prostitutes moved to the Thai-Burma border where they can earn more money. And it is generally safer than inside Burma when it comes to
arrests, according to a sex worker in Sangkhlaburi, Kanchanburi Province,
Thailand who wanted to remain anonymous.