Six village administrators in Kalay resign as regime officials are targeted in deadly attacks

Six village administrators from Sagaing Region’s Kalay Township resigned in a joint letter on Thursday for what they said were “family matters.”

The six administrators were from Kyaungtaik village tract, a stronghold of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and an area that has seen few anti-coup activities since the army’s February 1 attempted takeover of government. 

The administrators had been in their positions since being appointed in 2016. They were from the villages of Kyaungtaik, Thahpan Aing, Ahrwar, Nyaungtaw, Thinbawpin, Setaw-U, and sent a resignation letter to the Kalay Township Administrative Council—the local chapter of the coup regime—on Thursday. 

“As far as I know, administrators from the entire village tract resigned,” a resident told Myanmar Now. “There are many USDP or army supporters in that village tract, so their resignations at this time are a little bit strange. It is impossible that they were threatened.”

Several administrators nationwide who were appointed by the regime or who have not resigned from their posts since the military coup have recently been shot dead or attacked. They have been accused of acting as collaborators with or informants for the junta and tipping off regime officials with information about pro-democracy activities and the whereabouts of the activists. 

“Many people here support the army. Young people who are anti-military have moved elsewhere because living here is dangerous for them. Anti-coup protests could not be properly organised here, either,” another resident of Kyaungtaik village tract said. 

Neither the six administrators nor the Kalay Township Administrative Council could be reached for comments.

The administrator of Mauklin village tract, about 1.6 km north of Kyaungtaik, also resigned on June 1, according to area residents. A ward administrator in Nan Mar town in Kachin State’s Mohnyin Township also resigned on Friday after another former administrator from the area was recently killed.

“Many people here support the army. Young people who are anti-military have moved elsewhere because living here is dangerous for them. Anti-coup protests could not be properly organised here, either.”

Residents of Kalay were among the first to take up arms and fight back the military junta’s armed forces after more than 100 people were killed in the nationwide crackdowns by the regime on March 27. 

The Tahan protest stronghold in Kalay became well-known for resisting the Myanmar military and police through the use of traditional hunting rifles known as Tumi guns. At least 10 civilians were killed in late March and April when the military crushed the stronghold in lethal attacks that relied on heavy weapons.