Junta pressures Chaung Zone residents to celebrate festive events
May 17, 2024
HURFOM: May 22nd, 2024 is the full moon day of Warso month in the Burmese calendar year with Buddhists typically celebrating the festival of “watering “Bodhi” banyan tree”. The military junta is now pressuring residents of every village in Chaung Zone Township, Mon State to celebrate the festive event.
Junta appointed Administrators have been planning to organize music, and dance shows that include gambling events during the festivals. Their objective is to ensure large crowds attend.
“In recent years, there have been no music or dance shows during the festival of watering the Banyan tree. The situation in other Mon areas isn’t good and Mon people have had to flee from their homes. Festive events are organized very frequently here. Every village has had a festival since the start of this month. Now, there will be a music/dance show on the coming full moon day,” said a Chaung Zone resident.
Chaung Zone Township is under the full control of the military junta and the authorities have been organizing festive and gambling events.
“The Administrators are doing as they like. They never ask for the consent of the villagers. If there is a festive event, there is a gambling event. Now, no one is happy to celebrate a festival,” said a villager from Chaung Zone Township.