During a general protest against the military dictatorship, groups from 10 townships in Mon State, that support the Tatmadaw and the State Administrative Council, gathered in Mawlamyine on 13 February.
At around noon, Tatmadaw supporters gathered at the Floating Market on Strand Road, Mawlamyine. They marched around the city holding signs that read, “Welcome to the State Administrative Council.”
Meanwhile residents of Mawlamyine protested against the coup, by beating pots as the marchers passed.
Some people were worried about a possible confrontation between the two groups.
Hundreds of strangers from other areas have recently gathered in Mawlamyine to support the military’s executive council. According to student protestors, the movements of these groups are being closely monitored.
Police and security forces opened fire on students near Mawlamyine University on the 12th of February. Nine people were arrested but after local residents protested, they were released.
On February 8th, the military issued an order for the Mon State townships of Mawlamyine, Kyaikto, Thanbyuzayat and Ye, imposing Section 144 of the Myanmar Penal Code, in an attempt to stop protests. The order which is also in place in 90 cities across Myanmar imposes a nightly curfew, prohibits five or more people from gathering and gives authorities the right to search and seizure of residents’ homes without a judicial warrant.Â
