The Yangon Regional Military Council organized a mass novitiation ceremony with festivities on April 2, according to township general administration departments. The ceremony began with a gathering at the Regional Government Office and proceeded with a procession to the Shwedagon Pagoda under tight security measures. Township administrative officials from various districts were required to attend the event.
According to a township administration member who was forced to participate, the novitiation ceremony had been planned before the March 28 earthquake. However, the military council refrained from making any public announcements about the event, fearing criticism for holding celebrations while people were suffering from earthquake damage and casualties. The ceremony proceeded with strict security measures at Shwedagon Pagoda, with mandatory attendance required from township administrative officials.
The magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck on March 28 resulted in over 3,000 deaths in central Myanmar and caused extensive damage to homes and buildings. Local residents have expressed that holding such festivities while people are experiencing tremendous hardship and grief from the earthquake demonstrates the military council’s disregard for public suffering. Critics have also pointed out the inappropriateness of organizing such ceremonies when emergency relief efforts are urgently needed for earthquake victims. The timing of the event, while thousands are displaced and mourning lost family members, has been viewed as particularly insensitive to the plight of earthquake-affected communities.
