Ward administration members aligned with the Myanmar junta have allegedly established public security units in collaboration with disreputable individuals in some areas of Yangon, according to local sources.

The public security units were established in late 2022 and early 2023 across townships in Yangon with each ward unit being made up of between five and 20 men. They are made up of members of the junta-aligned Pyu Saw Htee militia, thugs, motorcycle taxi drivers, war veterans, pro-military members of Young Men’s Buddhist Associations and junta supporters.

The members of the public security units are more powerful than the ward administrators, according to locals. The junta has also been supplying them with arms during public events and celebrations. The junta is apparently also arming people who support ward administrators but are not members of public security units.

"Particularly in North Dagon Township, they've established home-based casinos. They conduct nighttime patrols and frequently accompany police and military council soldiers carrying out overnight guest inspections”, said a member of a North Dagon revolutionary force.

In North Dagon and South Dagon townships, there are typically a minimum of five members of public security units associated with each ward administration office.

“They are worse than the ward administrators during the overnight guest inspections. Lately, the administrators have not been as bad. In each township bicycle taxi drivers were told to wear similar shirts. Once, an old man, who did not wear a shirt, was forced to kneel in the middle of the road and was slapped in the face. Even at night, those guys extort money from passers-by, even when there are no junta soldiers present”, said a scout from a North Dagon defence force.

In the 10 wards of Yangon’s Kamayut Township, there are about 200 public security unit members, according to the Kamayut Township Scouts.

When Mizzima investigated it found that members of the public security units actively participated in overnight guest inspections alongside junta troops and ward administration members. They oppress the local populace by doing things like apprehending people on motorcycles, collecting information, and conducting surveillance to help the junta capture revolutionary fighters.