In U Shit Pin town of Pantaung Township, Bago Region, Ward Administrator Aung Ko of Pyitawtha Ward is forcing local residents to cook meals as unpaid labor and deliver food packages to the frontline. As fighting continues on the Bago Yoma mountain range, the ward administrator is making civilians take turns cooking meals by street, claiming that military council troops are starving and need food support.
According to local sources, military council soldiers in the Bago Yoma battles are reportedly surviving only on gourd pulp and three dried fish. Using this as justification, Ward Administrator Aung Ko is systematically forcing residents to cook meals according to prepared lists and ordering them to deliver the prepared food to the administrative office. Local residents report they are being coerced into participating in this forced labor scheme to support military troops.
The battles on Bago Yoma are reportedly very intense with high casualties on the military council side. Remaining military council troops are said to be suffering from low morale, with many deserting or returning to rear areas without orders. Due to these heavy losses, administrators, hundred-household heads and civilians in U Shit Pin town are being forced to organize supplies for the military. Additionally, military council supporters and gamblers are collecting donations of bottled water, soft drinks, dried fish, fermented fish paste, betel leaves and dried noodles for the soldiers. The local population is being systematically exploited to provide material support for military forces engaged in combat operations in the region.
