Key facts
- Myanmar's junta claims the country is back to normal, citing elections and the end of Yangon's curfew.
- Despite official claims, Yangon's nightlife scene is characterized by revellers staying out late but avoiding travel home due to safety concerns.
- A significant increase in young people reporting feeling unsafe walking alone at night has been noted since the military coup.
- The ongoing civil war contradicts the junta's narrative of restored order.
- Interviewees requested anonymity due to security concerns amid the volatile political situation.
In Yangon, Myanmar, a vibrant yet clandestine nightlife scene is unfolding, starkly contrasting with the military junta's assertions that the country has returned to normalcy. Despite the lifting of a post-coup curfew, revellers in packed nightclubs remain hesitant to travel home late, citing fears of arbitrary detention or conscription amid the ongoing civil war. This furtive social scene highlights the deep-seated anxieties prevalent in a nation grappling with conflict and political instability.