Who buys and controls the CCTV? Back to contents 48 Since the coup, some government entities currently under the control of the military have released calls for tenders on websites such as the Myanmar National Portal, and the relevant ministries’ websites.93 From the table of tenders, the Yangon Region Police Force and other government departments were to heavily equip Mandalay, Monywa, and Yangon and its outskirts with CCTVs starting from the second quarter of 2020, one year ahead of the coup. Under Mandalay’s Safe City Project, the Mandalay Regional Government released a tender through a Swiss challenge to install CCTV, AI, and systems and servers for Mahar Aung Myay, Chan Mya Thar Si, and Pyi Gyi Ta Gon townships on 15 May 2020 (see Figure 2). Since the coup, these townships have been under high surveillance from the military due to their active participation in Myanmar’s Civil Disobedience Movement.94 The areas were given ‘Stay at Home’ orders by the current military-controlled Mandalay Regional Government following an intense crackdown on protesters in Mahar Aung Myay.95 Fears about the junta police forces getting access to CCTV footage have led individuals from the movements to distribute pamphlets requesting households to take down or paint over CCTV cameras installed on their compounds.96 The push for CCTV installations in these specific townships is concerning as it is unclear which departments or individuals within the Mandalay Regional Government are leading the installation projects. With the majority of the Mandalay Regional Government staff on strike and the former mayor leading the Smart City Project detained since the coup, the lack of transparency about the department responsible and accountable to the public procurement process raises questions regarding the motives behind these post-coup projects.