In several townships within the Ayeyarwady District of Bago Region, the military council forces are conducting raids on villages to coerce civilians into attending rallies condemning the Arakan Army (AA) and People’s Defense Force (PDF) while showing support for the military. According to local residents, the military is threatening households to send one member each to these rallies, causing many civilians to flee their homes in fear.
During March and April, as the military council failed to gather voluntary participants for pro-military rallies in Ayeyarwady District, soldiers have resorted to entering villages and forcing participation through threats. Particularly in Minle Township’s Kanyin Pin village and Karen Ta Ein village, military personnel have been threatening civilians with weapons and invoking the Military Service Law to compel attendance. Local sources report that villagers are fleeing their homes, fearing they might be conscripted into military service during these raids.
Currently, the military council is suffering significant casualties and declining morale due to ongoing conflicts along the border areas of Bago Region and Rakhine State. The organization of these pro-military rallies appears to be an attempt to demonstrate public support for the military and boost the morale of their troops. Reports indicate similar rallies are being planned in other townships, including Monywa. The military’s actions have created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation among local communities, with many residents choosing to abandon their homes rather than face forced participation in these events.
Furthermore, due to concerns about potential attacks from revolutionary forces during these rallies, the military council is reportedly planning to deploy plain-clothed armed personnel for security purposes. The local population remains in a state of anxiety due to the military’s coercive tactics, with many fleeing their villages in fear of forced recruitment. These actions by the military council are widely viewed as another form of oppression against the civilian population, demonstrating the continuing pattern of intimidation and forced compliance that has characterized the military’s approach to civilian control.
