A Burmese village is under martial law after local people demonstrated against the appointment of a new, regime-backed head.

The disturbance, in the village of Hnaw Gone, in Hmawbi Township, Rangoon Division, was the first known sign of open opposition to a regime program to introduce a new generation of local administration officials.

About 1,000 Hnaw Gone villagers were ordered on November 30 to gather outside the village administration office and demonstrate their support for a new village head appointed by the regime-backed Union Solidarity and Development Association. But the villagers vociferously denounced the choice, and troops were called in to control them.

The villagers were ordered at gunpoint to return to their homes, but shouts of protest continued into the night. The village is reportedly still under tight military control.

The government program to appoint new local administration officials became known in early November, after applications were invited for positions within the country’s Ward and Village Peace and Development Councils. Incumbent office-holders were told they need not apply, and in at least one township serving members of the local WVPDC were told they had to resign to make way for newly-recruited officials. Most of the applicants for the administration positions are reported to be from USDA members.