The military council has continued to suspend the issuance of PJ passports and OWIC cards, which are essential for overseas travel, for 18 consecutive days. This restriction has effectively trapped approximately 70,000 workers who had planned to work abroad, according to overseas employment agencies. This prolonged suspension has significantly impacted the rights of Myanmar workers who had made arrangements for legal employment abroad, causing them to lose economic opportunities and leaving them in a state of uncertainty regarding their future employment prospects.
Furthermore, the military council has imposed new restrictions on the private education sector in Myanmar, prohibiting the use of the term ‘Private University’ and mandating the use of ‘Private College’ instead. They have also issued a directive forbidding the employment of teachers who participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). These restrictions represent a significant intervention in the educational sector, potentially affecting the quality and independence of private education institutions. The military council’s attempts to control the education sector through such administrative measures have raised concerns about academic freedom and the future of private education in Myanmar.
In related developments, fighting in Tada-U and Nwar Hto Gyi townships of Mandalay Region has continued for four days, resulting in approximately 20 casualties on the military council’s side and the seizure of various weapons and ammunition. These ongoing conflicts demonstrate the continuing resistance against the military council’s violent rule, with People’s Defense Forces maintaining their opposition through armed resistance. The sustained fighting in these areas reflects the broader pattern of civilian resistance against the military council’s oppressive governance and their determination to restore democratic rule in the country.
