August 28, 2024

Public concern in Yangon has heightened following reports of forced conscription in the city’s outskirts as well as densely populated townships such as Sanchaung, Kamaryut, Hlaing, and Kyimyindaing. It has been reported that authorities are using private vehicles to arrest individuals for military conscription.

On August 25, in the Taung Thu Kone neighborhood of Insein Township, young people were stopped, had their phones checked, and five were taken away by authorities, according to eyewitnesses.

“A military vehicle and two private vehicles were parked in the dark. They were checking people’s phones, releasing some and detaining others. Within less than an hour, they took away five young people,” an eyewitness told New Day Myanmar.

On August 21, in Thamine 2 Ward of Mayangone Township, military personnel reportedly blocked a main road with about 100 soldiers gathering in the area, according to a local resident.

“The entire central road was blocked. There were two Faw trucks and about ten double-cab vehicles filled with soldiers, roughly 130 in total. That night, they were checking guest lists in the Thamine area, and also raided houses in the Muditar housing area. The authorities said they received reports that PDFs (People’s Defense Forces) were hiding in the area,” the resident explained to New Day Myanmar.

Similar operations have been reported in Kyimyindaing, Sanchaung, Hlaing, and Kamaryut townships, where small private vehicles are patrolling the streets. On the night of August 26, two youths returning from work were reportedly arrested on the riverbank road in Kyimyindaing.

In Kyauktada Township, two young men returning from work were also arrested on the night of August 26 around 9:30 PM. They were reportedly conscripted into the military after questioning and were only released after their employer intervened and paid a bribe.

“I was walking back from work on 40th Street, and a military truck suddenly stopped. Soldiers got out and started questioning us, asking if we would join the military or if we supported PDFs. I requested to call my office, and they sent someone to bail us out, but it cost money—I’m not sure how much. Since then, the city center has been deserted at night,” a source told New Day Myanmar.

The military junta is reportedly trying to bolster its forces, aiming to conscript 5,000 people per month, according to military sources. Recent reports indicate that the monk Pakkoe, a pro-junta figure, admitted that during a recent operation in Tada-U Township, Mandalay Region, 100 people were forcibly conscripted, with 45—including four of his associates—being sent to military training camps.