Picnickers and romantic walkers, beware: the military has announced that anyone planning to make merry in Yangon war cemeteries will face legal action.
Every day, about 300 locals visit the city’s military cemeteries, including burial grounds for soldiers killed in the Second World War, according to the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar.
Some 1,000 foreigners, mostly British and Australians, come each month.
But, from now on, there can be no more recreational activities at the site, especially guitar-playing, noise-making, dating or picnicking. Why? Because it damages the country’s national image, said Thet Mon, the official in charge of managing military cemeteries.
Signs banning merrymaking and non-professional filming have reportedly been put up. But, judging from ineffectual ‘no making-out’ warnings positioned around Inya Lake and other romantic hot-spots, we can’t predict any immediate effect.
