Published November 23, 2005

Burmese civil servants who were transferred from Rangoon to the new capital at Kyappyay region near Pyinmana in central Burma, have been surrounded with barbed wires and guarded by armed soldiers, it has emerged.

The drastic action of Burma’s military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) came after some home-sick civil servants fled from the area which is said to be infested with malaria carrying mosquitoes. The civil servants are carrying out their official duties in an area which looks more like a police-controlled hard labour camp (gulag), rather than a site designated as the new capital of Burma, a civil servant from Hotel and Tourism Ministry who doesn’t want to be named, told DVB.

Many civil servants who fled Kyappyay have returned to Rangoon and many more are ordered to go there. Those who refuse to obey the order are threatened with prosecutions under the Emergency Provision Act – 5J for treason and insubordination.

“Some people from the Interior Ministry returned with malaria, I was told. According to him, water is also scarce,” a woman civil servant told DVB. “Women are among the third and fourth batches. There were none in the first and second batches. They are in the list of those who have to go there. They only know that they will have to go, but they do not know the exact date. They are in trouble. I have a small child who is attending a kindergarten. The younger girl is only two months old.”

Pregnant women, mothers with young babies and female civil servants with poor health are said to be refusing to go. Relocated civil servants were also forced to take part in a bizarre action similar to that of a warding off evil ceremony, the woman added.

“When they reached Pyinmana, at 6 o’clock and 37 minute, all the civil servants have to shout, ‘We have gone! We have gone!’ I don’t know why. I wonder of they are warding off evil.”