Vendors in Myanmar who boycott military-produced booze and cigarettes beware – you may be getting a summons from junta authorities.
That’s what happened to restaurant owners on 19th street in Yangon’s Latha township when representatives of their local ward administration office called them in on Wednesday and warned them to sell the goods or face the consequences, the owners and officials told RFA Burmese.
The military controls businesses that produce and distribute several alcoholic brands in the country, including Myanmar Beer, Mandalay Beer, Black Shield Beer, Mandalay Rum, Army Rum, Andaman God and Dagon branded alcohols, as well as various soft drinks.
It also makes and sells Red Ruby and Premium Gold branded cigarettes.
“They told us to sell Myanmar beer, rum and cigarettes produced by their military factories in our restaurants, just like other products we sell,” said one owner who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal.
“They warned us not to discriminate against their products and threatened to take action against those who don’t sell them,” the owner said. “Nobody [from the junta] has come to inspect our restaurants on 19th street yet, but I heard that they did so at restaurants in rural locations.”
It was not immediately clear how authorities intend to punish those who ignore the order.
On the flip side, rebel groups fighting the military, which took control of the government in a 2021 coup, have warned merchants not to sell military-owned brands – saying they would seize and destroy them if discovered.
The General Strike Coordination Body, which organizes boycotts of the military, has also urged the people not to use the products.
The pressure from both sides would seem to put merchants in a bind.
Bid to beat sanctions?
The campaign appears to be the latest bid by a cash-strapped junta to earn money in the face of crushing international sanctions over its repressive rule.
According to the owner, the warning was issued in line with a campaign led by Interior Minister Lieutenant General Yar Pyae to regain market share for beer, liquor and other goods produced by the military throughout the country.
The junta has issued orders to police stations and municipal offices in all states and regions to force shopping centers, stores, shops and restaurants – including those in the junta’s base of power, the capital Naypyitaw – to sell its products, a member of the ward administration in Yangon’s North Okkalapa township told RFA.
He said his office had been assigned to “check if the shops and restaurants sell the military-produced goods and submit a paper report by 6:00 p.m. every day.”
The junta has yet to release any information about the campaign or what kind of action it might take against those who boycott the military’s products.
Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.