Military makes show of strength and targets civilians in Yangon while losing bases in Shan State

Armoured vehicles and fully armed troops staged processions on the streets of Yangon this week, a month after the military began losing scores of bases to the Brotherhood Alliance’s Operation 1027 offensive in northern Shan State. Several Yangon residents told Myanmar Now that they had seen more vehicles and troops patrolling the city in recent days. The military, which had been subjecting civilians to less frequent searches and inspections since the middle of this year, began searching them more often again in November, according to Thuta, a resident of Botahtaung Township in his 20s. “They sent more troops to the bunkers where they had only had one or two soldiers stationed before. They are all in a ready-to-shoot position,” he said, adding that he had even seen what appeared to be naval personnel in the patrol trucks. Soe, a resident of North Okkalapa Township, said he had seen three army trucks and two police vehicles carrying some 25 junta personnel patrolling his township at around 4am and 7pm on Sunday. “It felt as if they were doing it to film a promotional video. They actually looked like special forces, they didn’t look like regular soldiers at all. They even had their own photographers and would stop to take photos at crowded places. It’s all a show of power, I suppose,” he said. Junta troops seen on procession in Yangon on November 26 Pro-junta propaganda channels on Telegram also posted photos of the reinforced patrols in Yangon. Most of the pictures showed a convoy made up of two armoured vehicles, five double-cab trucks, five FAW tactical trucks, while others showed two naval patrol ships. The same channels also posted photos, dated November 21, of junta troops moving in a procession through Yangon neighbourhoods accompanied by armoured vehicles, with videos showing the formation from different angles. Posts on the propaganda channels also claimed on Tuesday that the military council had sent additional supplies and reinforcements to its troops and police in Yangon Region. The military began to station its troops inside Yangon schools and monasteries starting on November 11, according to the Rangoon Scout Network (RSN), which has been relaying information on the military’s movements in Yangon Region to the defence ministry of the anti-junta National Unity Government. “They started setting up temporary bases inside schools,” said George, a spokesperson for the RSN. Local news sources said the troops did not generally remain at the schools for long, usually leaving after spending a few hours to one night in each school. “They may either be searching for a good place to set up a base or deliberately trying to give an exaggerated impression of their strength,” George said. According to the information collected by the RSN, the military stationed its troops in nearly 50 monasteries in 17 townships between November 16 and 22, not including temporary presences on pagoda and monastery grounds. The military has also reportedly begun seeking out civilians in the nighttime hours. According to the RSN, as of Tuesday there had been 87 reported instances in 28 Yangon townships of the military abducting civilians and taking them away in military vehicles. While Myanmar Now could not verify the accuracy of these figures, it has been able to confirm that such abductions have been taking place on a regular basis recently. “Two young men were taken at around 11pm last week and we’ve had no contact with them since,” said one resident of Thaketa Township who spoke on condition of anonymity. While it is believed that some of the abductees had been taken away for use as military porters, most have been held for ransom, according to local sources. The relatives of three middle-aged manual workers—taken captive when they encountered a junta convoy on patrol at around 8:30pm in North Okkalapa Township—reportedly had to pay a ransom of 300,000 kyat (US $140) each for their release. Four locals detained in Kamaryut Township in mid-November were also reportedly held for ransom, and seven young people were also arrested at a tea shop in North Dagon Township in early November on suspicion of “conspiracy.” The military also stationed more pro-junta administrators and firefighters around the ward administration offices to secure passage for the patrolling junta convoys, and installed more security cameras at the offices, according to Soe, the resident of North Okkalapa Township. “They installed 30 more CCTV cameras around the office near us, and they deployed senior administrators and firemen as security guards around it. It’s not like they care for the people’s security. They are doing all of this for themselves,” said Soe. “They’re trying to make it look like they have a lot of people to provide security in Yangon so that the public will be intimidated. But they really don’t have that much force anymore,” said Nan Lin, a member of a student group that has organised protests against the regime. Nan Lin also noted that clashes breaking out recently in Karen State and Bago Region might be behind this display of strength in cities still under the junta’s control. “They’re implementing ‘security plans’ in Yangon to respond to the intensifying conflict situation in the southern parts of the country. But it looks like it’s mostly just just for show,” he added. The military procession on November 26

Military makes show of strength and targets civilians in Yangon while losing bases in Shan State

The military has taken measures to tighten security in Myanmar’s largest city, conducted processions of military vehicles and troops through the streets, and reportedly held civilians for ransom

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