According to reports, 16 young people have successfully escaped after being forcibly recruited into military service following their deportation from Thailand to Myanmar. Among the escapees, two youths named Thant Naing Htwe (aka) Su Su and Naing Win Htun have reached 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, 4 were recaptured by the military council during their journey, while the remaining 10 have reportedly reached safe locations. The incident highlights the ongoing practice of forced military recruitment by the military council.
According to the escapees’ accounts, 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 recruited as soldiers. After spending approximately seven days at Infantry Battalion 431, they were transported by boat to Shwe Du Education School in Myeik Township. While they were intended to undergo military training as part of Training Batch 9, they managed to escape as a group around 1:30 AM on February 3rd. The successful escape of these individuals represents a significant blow to the military council’s forced recruitment efforts and demonstrates the growing resistance against such practices.
La Yaung, the information officer of Myeik PDF, explained that most of the escapees were locals from the Dawei region who had managed to establish contact with regional authorities before reaching out to the Myeik PDF for assistance. In response, the PDF organized secure escape routes, ultimately leading to the successful rescue of the two youth who reached their protection. Given the current weakening state of the military council’s forces, there are increasing calls for other conscripted soldiers to seek refuge with pro-democracy forces. The incident underscores the ongoing struggle between the military council and civilian resistance forces, with many young people being caught in the middle through forced recruitment practices. The PDF continues to provide support and safe passage for those seeking to escape from forced military service, maintaining their commitment to protecting civilians from the military council’s oppressive actions.
