Local sources report that in Maw Taw village, Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region, the military and Pyu Saw Htee militia forcibly recruited young people for military service during the traditional Myanmar New Year Thingyan festival period. On April 13, military forces and Pyu Saw Htee members surrounded Maw Taw village and forcibly took away approximately 50 young people of military service age. The village is the native place of Pyu Saw Htee leader monk Wasawa, though he currently resides at Artillery Battalion 606 rather than in the village.
Maw Taw village is home to both Buddhist and Muslim communities living together, and among those forcibly recruited were several Muslim youths. While the majority of villagers are unwilling to serve in the military, the armed forces and Pyu Saw Htee militia used force to conduct the recruitment. According to local residents, this forced military recruitment represents a clear violation of human rights by the military, infringing upon villagers’ fundamental rights and freedoms. The incident demonstrates the ongoing pattern of human rights violations being committed by the military across Myanmar, particularly notable for occurring during the traditional cultural festival period of Thingyan.
This event serves as an example of the military’s continued oppression of civilians, with the armed forces and Pyu Saw Htee militia disregarding the will of local people and using force to meet their recruitment needs. Such actions have created an atmosphere of fear and heightened security concerns among local residents. The military’s practice of forced recruitment, especially during a traditional festival period, highlights their ongoing disregard for civilian rights and cultural observances. The situation has particularly impacted the diverse community of Maw Taw village, where both Buddhist and Muslim residents have lived together harmoniously, now facing the common threat of forced military service regardless of their religious background.
