Mawlamyine, 15 October
U Aung Kyi Thein, the junta-appointed Chief Minister of Mon State, has been pushing for the staging of dramatic arts known as Thabin and festivals in order to create massive crowds, according to sources close to Thabin.
In order to show the stability of the region in the state, the Mon State Chief Minister said that dramatic arts can be performed in all 10 townships of Mon State during a recent meeting with the Thabin troupes.
According to the Chief Minister of the State Military Council, theatrical performances events can be performed in township pagoda festivals and commemoration events in local villages.
A person close to the Thabin toupes told the Than Lwin Times that “the Chief Minister of Mon State talked about making the festivals in Mon State as crowded as before and that he will be responsible for the security of the festivals.”
He added that the Chief Minister said he would set a curfew from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. During that time, the audiences will be instructed to remain within the festival compound.
“The military council is trying to deceive the international community that the country is peaceful and to blame the revolutionary forces if there are explosions during the events,” said Ko Aye Min Tun, an official from PDF-Thaon District.
Thabin, or dramatic events, have been banned since February 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has been nearly four years since no dramatic events have been able to hold due to the political situation and curfews.
However, some of the dramatic events resumed last year, but they were not permitted to be onstage at seasonal festivals, charity events, or other ceremonial occasions, so they only performed part-time and day events where gambling rings were present.
There were 42 Thabin troupes in Mon State before the COVID-19 pandemic, and now that the junta-appointed Chief Minister has allowed them to perform again, more than 30 old and new troupes are preparing to perform again, according to the troupe community.
There are frequent clashes in Mon State’s Kyaikto, Belin, Tatonh, Ye, Paung and Kyaikmaraw,
between the junta army and the revolutionary forces, and the military council has to tighten security there.
News – Than Lwin Times
Photo: Aung Kyi Thein(FB)