According to Mandalay residents, a procession was held in support of the Military Service Law promulgated by the Military Junta at noon on February 13, near the two lion statues at the foot of Mandalay Mountain, Aung Myay Thar San Township, Mandalay City.
“There were about a few hundred people; they marched from the two-lion statues at the foot of Mandalay Mountain to the horse racing arena,” a Mandalay resident who witnessed it told MPA.
At the event, they paraded around holding placards saying, “Supporting the Military Service Law” and “Let the entire nation serve in the military to protect the country.”
“Since around 11:30 p.m., we saw people gathering at the foot of the mountain, holding placards and small national flags,” a tricycle driver near the foot of Mandalay told MPA.
The military junta paid MMK 20,000 to the participants in the procession in support of the military service law. Some of the participants came to the gathering place by buses and motorcycles, according to a man working in a motorcycle parking business.
“I heard that they’re saying while they’re parking in my lot; they got MMK 20,000. They’re not taken in the neighborhood. They came on their own. I saw some people who came by buses. I saw middle-aged men among the supporters,” he continued.
After the military junta promulgated the Conscription Law, the arrests of young people in the city of Mandalay at night and arrests of pedestrians have raised concerns among the people of the city.