Myanmar military blocks charity concert in Kyauktaw Twsp

By DMG 11 Dec 2021

DMG Newsroom
11 December 2021, Kyauktaw 

A sizable military contingent put a stop to plans for a charity concert organised by the Kyauktaw Youth Association in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, on Saturday, with authorities citing pandemic rules. 

The Kyauktaw Youth Association had arranged the musical showcase as a fundraiser coinciding with the anniversary of the association’s founding on December 11. The nighttime concert was to be held at a football ground in the town of Kyauktaw’s Myothit ward.  

“One of my friends told me that around 100 security personnel in two military vehicles arrived at the township police station at about 5 p.m. on December 11. They walked to the venue where the concert would be held and prevented the event organisers from performing due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Ko Aung Hein Lin, vice chairman of the Kyauktaw Youth Association. 

Two military officials and the township administrator told the event organisers to cancel the concert, although authorities were informed about the planned event as far back as December 2. 

The event organisers have subsequently gone into hiding, fearing for their safety, said an official from the Kyauktaw Youth Association. 

“We were not organising this event for our own benefit. We were planning to hold this concert so that we can do our best for the benefit of our town and village,” he said, adding: “This should not be stopped at all.” 

A Kyauktaw resident described the quashing of the charity event as “disgusting,” given its noble aims. 

“I loathe and strongly condemn the military’s obstruction of a concert organised by the youths. They do this to get more and more work done day by day. The military council’s ban on the concert is tantamount to blocking young people’s future work,” he said.