In Kyaukphyu, one of the few towns in Arakan (Rakhine) State still under junta control, the coup regime is pressuring civil department staff to back its actions and be ready to cooperate whenever required.

The junta, through department heads, has pressured its civilian employees not to criticize the regime, refrain from communicating outside the town, and be ready to appear whenever summoned by its authorities.

“Civil servants had already been told to support the junta and appear whenever summoned. But in September, the junta increased the pressure with another order, demanding they follow that directive without exception,” said a source close to the Administration Department of Kyaukphyu Township, where Kyaukphyu serves as the seat.

The junta has warned that employees who fail to comply with the directive could face salary cuts, disciplinary action under civil service laws, or even criminal charges if necessary, he added.

On September 18, the junta compelled civil servants in Kyaukphyu Town to assemble and welcome soldiers returning from the frontlines following clashes near the town.

“The junta authorities told us we had to take part in a welcome-back event for the soldiers. We wanted to say no, but we didn’t have that right. We just wanted to focus on our work and stay out of it, but we couldn’t defy the regime,” a female employee from a government department in Kyaukphyu told DMG.

Heavy fighting continues in Kyaukphyu Township between the junta and the Arakan Army (AA), with the junta sustaining significant casualties. The regime is struggling to care for the large number of wounded soldiers in Kyaukphyu Town, forcing many to be transported by ship to Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State, for treatment.

However, the junta sought to mask these serious setbacks by spreading a false narrative of victory on the frontlines, portraying civil servants welcoming triumphant soldiers to mislead the public.

“Most residents have already left, leaving behind only the poor, who can’t afford to leave, and the civil servants under the junta. The junta is exploiting these employees as it wants. The staff being forced to comply are unhappy too, but they have no choice, they have to do what the junta tells them,” said a Kyaukphyu resident.

Since early 2024, the junta has intensified security measures in Kyaukphyu Town, arresting anyone it suspects and intimidating locals, leading many residents to flee to AA-controlled areas for safety.

The current fighting in Kyaukphyu Township began on February 20. During the clashes, many junta officers, including two brigadier generals, and hundreds of troops were killed. The AA also captured a significant number of prisoners of war.

Mintattaung Village, near Police Battalion 32 by Kyaukphyu Town, along with Pya Tae and Kyet Tain villages near the Dhanyawadi naval base, are currently the main hotspots of fighting in Kyaukphyu Township.