The military council is reportedly threatening and compelling government staff and local residents from various townships in Magway Region to attend the Man Shwesettaw Pagoda Festival in Minbu Township. The festival, which runs for 75 days from February 2 to April 17, has seen low attendance, prompting the military council to issue special directives to the Magway Region military authorities to ensure higher attendance numbers at the Buddhist festival being held at the Man Shwesettaw Pada Pagoda.
The Magway Region military council has ordered government employees and their family members to attend the festival in groups organized by township and department. They have arranged transportation and travel allowances, and are providing special leave for staff members. Additionally, residents of villages in Minbu Township are being forced to attend through village administrators who are compiling attendance lists and organizing mandatory participation. Local sources report that ward and village administrators, along with hundred-household and ten-household heads, are gathering people in groups to attend the festival against their will.
Despite the military council constructing over 300 accommodation rooms and approximately 350 shop stalls for the festival, attendance has remained low, leading to the forced mobilization of local civilians. The military authorities are using administrative structures to compile household lists and organize group visits to the festival. Local residents have expressed that they are being made to attend against their wishes, with administrators at various levels being instructed to ensure participation from their respective areas. The coerced attendance at the religious festival reflects the military council’s attempts to create an appearance of normalcy and public support, despite widespread resistance to their rule.
