Seventeen staff members from the Mon State General Administration Department have been suspended from their duties for participating in the CDM (civil disobedience movement), they said. 

The department issued an order with No (25/2021) dated February 19 saying that 17 civil servants of the department have been suspended from their duties citing their violation of the provisions of several laws and rules including Article 26, Sub-Article (a) of the 2008 Constitution and some sections of the civil service law and other related laws and rules. 

The order mentions their Facebook posts saying they are taking part in the CDM, their absence from work without seeking leave from responsible officials and their mobile phones switched off when officials contacted them to apply for leave as they, being civil servants, are entitled to leave of absence. 

Those who were suspended from their duties include branch clerks, upper divisional clerks, lower divisional clerks, peons and drivers. 

Moreover, notices are being sent to civil servants from other departments who are participating in the CDM to return to work, according to respective local sources. 

In Mawlamyine town of Mon State, mass protests against the military coup continued for the 15th day on February 21. The demonstrations were joined by civil servants from education, health, Myanma Railways, Myanmar General Post Office and other departments as well as company staff, shopkeepers, student unions and local residents.