In downtown Mandalay, a group of unidentified individuals including armed men wielding melee weapons, posted leaflets with hateful messages on building walls and electric pylons aimed at inciting ethnic conflict against Rakhine people.

"A group of individuals armed with rods and swords posted leaflets walls and electric pylons, then departed without further incident. Upon their departure, nearby individuals removed their racist  leaflets”, a witness told Mizzima.

These individuals posted hate-filled leaflets declaring, 'We vehemently oppose any Rakhine shops opening in Mandalay', 'All Rakhine shops must leave Mandalay', and 'We warn and prohibit all people from buying from Rakhine shops in Mandalay.'

There is a clear pattern to the purpose and motivation of  this stirring up anti-Rakhine ethnic prejudice. The Junta grappling with major setbacks on the battlefields in northern Rakhine State, is actively spreading messages of Rakhine hatred and inciting ethnic conflicts through its propaganda telegram channels

Similar efforts to incite ethnic conflicts were also reported last week in Hsihseng, located in southern Shan State. The Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) and various Inle social organizations reported that these actions were carried out by the coup regime and certain organizations supporting it.

"Faced with a series of military defeats, the Military Council is trying to instigate conflicts between ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and resistance forces”, a spokeswoman from Inle Women’s Union said.

"When relations with China soured, a similar operation spread anti-China propaganda. Following military setbacks in Hsihseng town in southern Shan State, they once again incited Pa-O ethnic groups to fight among themselves. Now with the junta‘s losses mounting in Rakhine State, they are targeting Rakhine people. We all know who the real perpetrators of these vulgar acts were in our country, don’t we?” a Muslim man from Mandalay said We're concerned about when they will turn their sights on us.