The junta is forcing people to construct its pandals (stages) and to work as security guards for the pandals at the upcoming Thingyan water festival in Yangon Region’s Kawhmu Township.

The local junta-appointed administration has been collecting funds to build the pandals from local business owners since 5 April.

A local from a village in Kawhmu Township said: “The junta regime is trying to get people to come and have fun at the Thingyan festival. Owners of fish ponds have to pay 10,000 kyats for each of their ponds. My friend had to contribute 80,000 kyats in total for his eight ponds.”

Local officials have also told each village to supply the Township administration with two people who will either work constructing the pandals before Thingyan or as security guards at the pandals during Thingyan.

Defence forces and the National Unity Government (NUG) have encouraged people not to attend any junta-organised Thingyan celebrations, warning that they risk being attacked.

Kahwmu Township was previously just an anonymous big village, until Aung San Suu Kyi stood as the area’s member of parliament in the 2012 by-election and the 2015 and 2020 general elections, each time easily winning the seat.