Workers in the oil fields of Magway have been dramatically affected by scorched earth policy pursued by the military junta over the last two weeks.

Thousands of Military Council troops from the 22nd Battalion under 101 Pakokku township arrived at Myaing township, Magway Division and set fire to the oil fields starting from January 14.

“Junta troops set fire every day. We cannot negotiate with them. Previously, they took 50,000 MMK for each field not to set fire. Later, they set fire to all the oil fields. It is said that it was by the command of the Northwest Military Headquarters to set fire to all the oil fields,” a local resident.

Many people in the Myaing and Pauk townships rely on the oil fields as their main source of income and they have lost tens of thousands of kyat due to the arson.

"Some people run because life is important. Some are left near the oil fields. The Military Council issued a Marshall Law. We must leave within two days. If not, they will assume we belong to the People’s Defence Forces (PDF) and they will kill us,” the resident said.

“Some say they will continue to cut bamboo as before,” he said, noting that there is not too much bamboo because the area is an oil field.

The Letpanto oil field near Myaing and Pauk townships has many oil tanks, and the Military Council is constantly burning them with about 100 troops on a daily basis.

"Junta soldiers are just burning oil tanks. All of them are stationed now at Kaing Taw Ma village. I heard that there is a propaganda campaign in the village. They also said that the person who will be the village administrator will be provided with full weapons. They are stationed at the school in the village,” said a local resident.

Each oil tank holds more than 1,000 barrels of oil, according to the local people.

In another incident in Pauk, another township in Magway division, Military Council troops came on January 23 to burn the oil fields and about 10 oil fields have been set on fire.