Sixteen young people have successfully escaped after being forcibly recruited into military service following their deportation from Ranong, Thailand to Myanmar. Among the escapees, two individuals – Thant Naing Htwe (aka) Su Su and Naing Win Htun – have reached the safety of the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Myeik Township, as confirmed by La Yaung, the information officer of Myeik PDF. Of the 16 who attempted to escape, four were recaptured by the military council during their journey, while the remaining ten have reportedly reached secure locations. The incident highlights the ongoing practice of forced military recruitment by Myanmar’s military council against civilians, including those who are returned from neighboring countries.
According to the accounts of those who escaped, they were initially held at the Ranong detention center in Thailand before being transferred to Kawthaung. From there, they were taken to Infantry Battalion 431, where they were forcibly conscripted into military service. After spending approximately seven days at Infantry Battalion 431, they were transported by boat to Shwe Du Education School in Myeik Township. The group managed to escape together on February 3rd at around 1:30 AM, while they were being prepared for the 9th batch of military training. The escape was carefully planned and executed, though not all participants were able to reach safety. The two individuals who reached the Myeik PDF did so on March 6th, demonstrating the challenging nature of their journey to freedom.
La Yaung, the information officer of Myeik PDF, explained that most of the escapees were natives of Dawei region, and their rescue was coordinated through regional-level communications. The PDF was able to assist their escape through secure routes after receiving requests for help. He emphasized the importance for civilians remaining in cities and villages to stay vigilant to avoid becoming hostages of the military council. The PDF has also called upon current military service members to consider switching sides to stand with the people. The incident underscores the military council’s continuing pattern of human rights violations, with forced military recruitment being one of their many oppressive practices against civilians. The successful escape of these individuals, despite the risks and challenges involved, represents a significant act of resistance against the military council’s forced recruitment policies.
