Pyin Oo Lwin District People’s Defence Force (PDF) issued a statement on 11 January warning people to stay away from companies that support the Myanmar junta in Mandalay Region’s Thabeikkyin Township.

It said that the PDF is planning to attack junta supporting companies in the township, such as the U Mahn Sein company and the Myanmar Golden Point Family company and that it will not be responsible for any injuries suffered by civilians in the area of the companies.

Captain Lin Yone from Pyin Oo Lwin District PDF said: “The people in these companies are mostly Pyu Saw Htee, Military Council members and the police. The administrative sections are mainly composed of former commanders and police officers. Essentially, the regime has always been allowed to flourish at those companies. They hold military and Pyu Saw Htee training. Our main reasons for attacking them are for allowing junta troops to be stationed [on the companies’ properties] and giving training to Pyu Saw Htee members.”

He explained that they got their information from supporters who were associated with the company or worked there. He also said that since the companies had been running Pyu Saw Htee training nobody was allowed to visit them or go close to their property.