Shwe Phee Myay, Aug 20, Tangyan
Junta-organized rallies against the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) appeared today in Tangyan Township in northern Shan State, according to the residents.
The junta’s military has forced some people to involuntarily participate in rallies in a town that has seen no clashes and where neither the TNLA nor the MNDAA is active.
The people were forced to hold banners and shout slogans taught by the junta troops, such as, “To Live Peacefully, the Union Not to Be Divided, TNLA, MNDAA Get Out of Shan State.”
“Reasoning that the order came from a higher-ranked officer, the township’s General Administration Department ordered the ward administrators to gather 30 people from each ward,” a resident said.
He added that the administrators gathered anyone they saw and paid them 5,000 kyats for lunch.
A vendor said that regime officers and administrators have threatened vendors at Myoma Market, stating that anyone who does not come will be fined 50,000 kyats.
The rally was held at around 8 p.m. in Tangyan, with unwilling participants being forced to walk from the Road Transport Administration Department office to Aung Mingalar Square near the Myoma Market.
“The rally is a very annoying thing,” said a resident of Ward 2.
“There’s no fighting happening here. The TNLA and MNDAA, whom they are forcing us to protest against to get out of the area, are also not here. It’s quite obvious that they are trying to make different ethnic groups fight each other.”
He added that if the people were actually allowed to protest, they would demand that their town be free from crimes like theft, banditry, and robbery; for the regime to repair the roads; and for an end to corruption, illegal casinos, and the drug trade.
Tangyan is a large township that comprises 10 urban wards and 49 village tracts. While the junta has control over the town, most of the rural areas are controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA). Other armed groups, including the Mong Ha militia, the Lahu Police, and the Man Pan militia group, are also present in the area.
Translate by #KLT
You can read and listen to our Shwe Phee Myay’s reports, not only on Facebook and our Website, but also on the following channels:
