Junta arrests “conscript candidates” at their home

September 3, 2024

HURFOM: Previously, the military junta collected names of young men eligible for military service under the conscription law via village/ward administration departments. Once recruits had been identified they were sent for military training. However, that system is now changed. The junta has begun to collect names of conscript candidates directly from immigration department and is arresting young men at their homes.

In August, 2024, a local man from Mawlamyine who looked after his 70-year-old mother was arrested by the military junta at his home. The junta claimed he was obligated to begin military training.

“We have only mother and son. Only my son is looking after me. Now, the soldiers arrested my son and we have no power to resist them. I received no monetary support for my son joining the military,” said the mother.

The junta is arresting young men at their homes in Kyike Hto Township, as they prepare for the 5^th batch of military conscripts. Arrests of young men are taking place day and night and it has frightened local people.

Some village/ward administrators have extorted 10,000 to 100,000 MMK from each household claiming the money is needed to support “conscript candidates”.

Locals reported to HURFOM that each household in Pa Nga and Ka Rote Pi villages, Thanbyuzayat Township had to pay a 100,000 MMK ‘conscription fee’ to the Administrators.

In some villages in Ye Township, Administrators extort 10,000 to 30,000 MMK from each household.

The military junta has convinced young men that if they joined the military, they would be paid 470,000 MMK monthly and their families would also receive a fortune of 3.6 million MMK. However, no families have received this level of promised monetary support.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News