By Kantarawaddy Times
The Military council has ordered all government staff to return to Loikaw town by August, according to local sources.
“As far as I know, they will tell all government staff to return to Loikaw town by this August. Even though we do not want to return, we have to return to Loikaw,” a government staff member told Kantarawaddy Times.
The government staff member said that the majority of staff do not want to return to Loikaw town, so the government officials are drawing lots to decide who is going to return to Loikaw first.
“When the higher-up officials told us to go back we complained that we do not have places to stay in Loikaw and that our family members are unable to travel with us at this time. The officials told us that government staff must return to Loikaw group by group and month by month. They will draw lots to decide who is going to return to Loikaw first. The lot winners must return to Loikaw first,” a nurse, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Kantarawaddy Times.
The Military council has prioritized the return of staff from the department of electrical power, GAD staff, firefighters, nurses and medical doctors.
On 5 June, two government department Directors were shot dead in Nam Baw Wan market. Government staff are worried about their security and do not want to return to Loikaw.
“Even though they told us to return to Loikaw, they do not provide security for us. They do not allow us to transfer to other towns. They do not allow us to resign. Actually, I do not want to work in any government department anymore,” another government staff member, who already returned to Loikaw, told Kantarawaddy Times.
Many people have already returned to Nam Baw Wan, Kyi Thayar, Law Dama, Daw Tama, Shan Pai, Min Su and Pan Kang wards in Loikaw town.
According to documentation done by the Kantarawaddy Times, at least three civilians were injured by landmines in Loikaw town in May and June.
Karenni resistance groups have continued to attack Burma army positions in Loikaw Township in recent days.
