Bago revolutionary forces issued a statement on 28 August urging people not to use the junta’s new 20,000 kyat banknote and to instead try to dismantle the junta’s financial system.

The statement was jointly issued by people’s defence forces from Moenyo, Tharyarwaddy, Okpho, Minhla, Nattalin, Zigon, and Gyobingauk townships and local public administrations.

It urged people to not use the newly issued 20,000 kyat banknotes. It acknowledged that workers are currently facing challenging situations, but encouraged them to cooperate with the wishes of the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) and minimise their use of the 20,000 kyats banknotes, to help prevent inflation and fight against the junta financial system.

“We are appealing to the public to collaborate with the NUG and refrain from engaging with the military regime. We also urged people to actively participate in the battle to dismantle the financial infrastructure of the Military Council”, said the deputy chief of Tharyarwaddy Township Public Administration.

The revolutionary forces statement also encouraged people to report to the NUG’s Counter-Terrorism Central Committee any banks or other financial outlets that are circulating the 20,000 kyat banknotes.

The junta started issuing the 20,000 kyat banknotes on 31 July. On 24 August the NUG’s Counter-Terrorism Central Committee declared that the new banknotes were not legal tender. It encouraged private banks and financial institutions not to issue the banknotes and warned that there would be legal consequences for organisations that did not comply.

Revolutionary forces in Sagaing and Magway regions have already also called for people to not use the 20,000 kyat notes.

Political analysts and economists have warned that the issuing of new banknotes is a sign of financial instability that could lead to inflation and instability causing hardships for ordinary people.