Explosion Hits Rangoon Divisional Govt Office

By The Irrawaddy 25 November 2016

RANGOON — An explosion occurred at the Immigration Department of the Rangoon divisional government office on Friday afternoon.

The office shares the compound with the Rangoon Division parliament and the police headquarters. Rangoon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein’s residence is also in the vicinity of the office.

Sources said the explosion was caused by glass energy drink bottles filled with chemical liquids; there were no casualties and no reported injuries in the blast.

A bomb squad car and police officials were seen entering the compound through its Gate 4 on Friday evening. Security forces defused another explosive on-site.

The explosion is the latest in a series of blasts during last two weeks in Rangoon. Four minor explosions occurred at a township immigration office in South Dagon Myothit Township on Thursday. Prior to that, another two explosions were at shopping malls.

So far the police have failed to come up with an official explanation to the public about the series of explosions. On Friday, they refused to take questions from the media waiting outside the government compound.

U Nay Phone Latt, a lawmaker from the Rangoon divisional parliament, told The Irrawaddy that Friday’s explosion in the government compound was an “ugly” event.

“It shouldn’t have happened. This is an act meant to mock the security. Plus, it also highlights how loose security is here,” he said.

U Nay Phone Latt added that the authorities should provide an explanation about the explosion. “If not, people will feel they are no longer secure,” he said.