In U-Ship Pin town of Pantaung Township, Bago Region, Ward Administrator Aung Ko of Pyitawtha Ward is forcing local residents to cook meals for military troops on the frontlines. According to local sources, civilians are being coerced to prepare food for military council troops who are reportedly starving during ongoing battles in the Bago Yoma mountain range. Currently, residents of Pyitawtha Ward are being required to cook meals on a rotating schedule by street, following the administrator’s orders, and must deliver the prepared food to the administrator’s office.
The military council forces are suffering heavy casualties in the battles taking place in the Bago Yoma region. Using the excuse that remaining troops only have preserved bamboo shoots and three dried fish to eat, civilians are being forced to cook meals. During the battles, military council troops’ morale has deteriorated significantly, with many soldiers fleeing or returning to rear areas without orders. As a result, administrators and hundred-household heads in U-Ship Pin town, along with military supporters, are organizing food packages for the troops. Additionally, military council affiliates and gamblers are collecting donations including bottled water, soft drinks, dried fish, fermented fish paste, betel leaves, and dried noodles for the troops.
According to local residents, the ward administrator is forcing people to cook meals on a rotating schedule by street, claiming sympathy for the starving soldiers. This forced labor represents another form of oppression by the military council and violates people’s human rights. The military council continues to impose forced labor, extort money, and forcibly recruit soldiers while violating civilians’ security and rights. The situation demonstrates the ongoing pattern of the military council’s exploitation and abuse of civilian populations under their control.
