In U Shit 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. As fighting intensifies in the Bago Yoma area, the military council troops are reportedly facing food shortages, leading the ward administrator to implement a rotation system where residents are compelled to cook meals. The administrator claims the soldiers are surviving only on papaya and three dried fish, using this as justification to force civilians to prepare food for the military.
Currently, residents of Pyitawtha Ward are required to cook meals on a daily rotation basis under Administrator Aung Ko’s orders and must deliver the prepared food to the administrator’s office. The ongoing battles in the Bago Yoma region have been particularly intense, with the military suffering significant casualties. Reports indicate that remaining military council soldiers are experiencing low morale, with many deserting their posts or returning to rear areas without orders. Local sources confirm that the situation has become increasingly difficult for military forces in the region.
Due to the military’s losses, administrators and hundred-household heads in U Shit Pin town, along with some military supporters, are organizing ward-level food donations to show support for the troops. Military-affiliated gambling operators and their supporters are also collecting donations including bottled water, soft drinks, dried fish, fermented fish paste, betel leaves, and dried noodles for the soldiers. Local residents express frustration at being forced to provide labor against their will but face difficulties in refusing these demands. The situation highlights the ongoing pressure placed on civilians by local authorities acting on behalf of the military council.
