NAYPYITAW, 09 October 2021, (TON): Scores of local administrators across the country have left their posts in recent weeks after the underground National Unity Government (NUG) demanded they quit and resistance fighters threatened more assassinations of those who continue to serve the coup regime.

At least 152 local administrators in Yangon, Sagaing, and Magway regions have stepped down since the NUG issued the demand as part of its September 7 declaration of war against the junta.

Many who quit cited health, family and security concerns in their resignation letters.

Those who stepped down are based in Katha, Htigyaing and Chaung-U townships in Sagaing, Yesagyo in Magway, and Khayan and Mingaladon in Yangon.

In Yesagyo in particular, 44 administrators quit between mid-September and October 6.

Locals have speculated that a statement issued by the anti-junta People’s Defence Force (PDF) in the township warning administrators to resign by September 30 likely prompted the mass walkout.

The day after the PDF’s deadline, San Lin, the administrator for Thazi village, was shot dead.

He had previously used a megaphone to announce to the village that he was “not afraid of anyone” and would continue to serve as the local administrator “no matter what.”