Multiple explosions rocked public utilities offices in Yangon last week amidst growing threats from Myanmar’s junta security forces against civilians, who have refused to pay their electricity bills in an act of defiance toward the State Administrative Council.
On Friday, explosions went off at the local electricity offices in Sanchaung, Mingaladon and Lanmadaw, local media reported. In Mandalay, an electric meter reading clerk working for the junta was shot dead on Sunday in broad daylight by two unknown shooters.
The targeted attacks came amidst rising pressure from authorities who were threatening to cut off power to households if they didn’t pay their electricity bills. In previous weeks, soldiers have demanded payments at gunpoint from civilians in several townships across the country.
#Myanmar #military in #Yangon neighbourhood threatening to cut off electricity supply if residents continue to refuse payment. Some citizens have not paid/refuse to pay bills to boycott #militarycoup since Feb 1 as they don't want funds to go to #military #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/G2HWh3XpLE
— May Wong (@MayWongCNA) July 7, 2021
https://twitter.com/YaungSitt/status/1414128374818254849
On the same day, the state-controlled Myanmar power company warned that electricity could be cut off for households who continued to withhold payments in a bid to deny revenue to the SAC.
“For the benefits of the people, you are requested to cooperate and help to regularly pay monthly fees,” the Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation said in an announcement in a Facebook post.
There is a growing online movement to #BurnElectricityBill where civilians post pictures of them burning their power bills. Anti-coup protesters are also pushing for citizens to use generators and solar panels instead of using the electricity grid.
Hello Myanmar User
If you're inside of country you should go and get solar if possible. And try to use gas when you cook.
Our next challenge will be the electricity cutt off by SAC cause we all didn't pay any bills to military.
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/BBChsZ9lxG— Robert Minn Khant (@minn_robert) July 6, 2021
Tw // fire
Youths from #MingalarTaungNyunt tsp held "Burn Electricity bill" movement on June 17. #BurnElectricityBill#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar#June17Coup pic.twitter.com/DlNmMCVBJN— Bago's Spring Revolution (@SpringBago) June 17, 2021
In previous weeks, explosions also occurred in Hlaing, Tamwe, and Thingangyun townships in Yangon and Bago Township in Bago Region. In Mandalay, members of civilian defense forces and junta security forces exchanged fire last month after a People’s Defense Force base was raided.
