Protesters in Yangon rally in support of the Civil Disobedience Movement in February (EPA)

Resistance forces gave public employees in Htilin and other townships in northern Magway until last Friday to resign

By Myanmar Now

Some 80% of public employees in Magway Region’s Htilin Township have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), according to a group that last week threatened to “take action” against those who continued to work under the  coup regime.

The Yaw Defence Force (YDF) warned public employees in Htilin and other townships of northern Magway’s Yaw region last Monday that they would be targeted as supporters of the junta if they didn’t resign.

A week later, most in Htilin had heeded the warning, according to a YDF (Htilin) spokesperson, who based the claim on lists provided by the civil servants themselves.

“They said it was hard for them to submit resignation letters since most public offices were closed, so they just sent us the lists they had compiled. The numbers are still increasing,” the spokesperson told Myanmar Now on Monday.

A total of 200 civil servants are believed to have resigned since last week, including 130 working in the township’s education department.

Most others were healthcare workers from public hospitals or staff from the general administration department, but at least 10 police officers were said to be among those now taking part in the CDM.

May Thet Wai, one of two female officers who surrendered their weapons to the YDF after joining the anti-junta resistance movement, said she made the move because she despised the regime and wanted to do whatever she could to force it from power.

“We saw the YDF statement and decided that by taking part in this movement, we could help overthrow the junta. About 10 police officers from the Htilin police force have joined so far,” she said, adding that around 40 officers are still in service.

“I would like to urge those who are not part of the movement to join as soon as possible. We absolutely believe that we can end the dictatorship if we all unite,” she added.

According to the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), more than 400,000 civil servants have joined the CDM since the February 1 coup.

In a speech marking the NUG’s declaration of war against the regime in September, acting president Duwa Lashi La urged civil servants in all junta-controlled departments to stop going to work.

Last week, the NUG announced the creation of a new online lottery as part of its effort to finance its operations. It said that 70% of the profits from the monthly sale of 20b kyat (US$11m) worth of tickets would be used to support striking civil servants.

Burmese version.

Original Post: Myanmar Now