By Yoon Sat - Mar 31, 2025
Garment workers from factories near Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone in Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon, reported being detained, slapped, and forced to squat by junta soldiers on March 24 around 7 a.m.
According to workers, soldiers intercepted ferry vehicles carrying male and female workers from five different factories and detained them.
“It was just playful water splashing between co-workers. Suddenly, a black Toyota Wish vehicle followed us, filming. Since splashing water near Thingyan is a tradition, the workers didn’t notice anything unusual. Later, that car followed and warned each ferry, “Don’t splash water, or we’ll arrest you ahead.” But how could the workers believe that? When we neared the roundabout, six ferry cars were blocked by junta troops and some thugs. About 60 young men were in those ferries. They slapped the boys and made the girls squat. They could have killed us if this was political. But this was just splashing water,” said a male worker who experienced the incident.
The workers involved were from Handa, ANG, Heng Main, Twinkle Light, and Yong Ang garment factories. The men were slapped while about 30 women were forced to do squats in public.
“They asked if splashing water was wrong. Five men who questioned them were slapped. The girls were made to squat until a crowd formed and one soldier intervened, telling the others to stop,” said another worker.
The military council summoned factories to send 50 percent of their workers to join the Thingyan pavilion and forcibly participate in the celebrations last year. But this year, workers said they faced violent repression instead.
“There were five soldiers who arrested the workers. One of them turned out to be decent, so all six vehicles were eventually released. Ten workers from our factory had to go when they summoned us to the pavilion last year. But this year, we didn’t go. Isn’t it even allowed for workers to play water among themselves just a little?” they said.
Every Thingyan season, it’s been common for factory workers riding ferries to splash water on each other or play while waiting for transport. But workers say they now travel to and from work in fear and anxiety, without peace of mind after what happened this year.
