Local residents report that military council forces have raided four villages in Letpadan Township, Bago Region, forcibly arresting 12 young people as porters. On April 6, military troops arrested two youths from Thitakone village and demanded 10 million kyats (approximately $5,000) per person. Despite families paying the demanded ransom, the young men remain in detention as of today. The military’s actions represent a continuing pattern of forced conscription and extortion in the region.
On the morning of April 7, military forces arrested four young people from Matutun village in Sintalin village tract as porters. The following day, on April 8 at around 5 AM, approximately 30 military troops entered Sinkauk village in Sintalin village tract, where they arrested Ko Hla Htut Win and another youth, while other young people from the village were forced to flee and go into hiding. The military’s presence has created an atmosphere of fear and instability in these communities.
Also on the morning of April 8, military council forces conducted raids in villages within the Sitsinmani village tract. During these operations, they arrested three young people who were at a donation ceremony pavilion in Moesay village and one youth from Sinmani village. Among those arrested was the father of a novice monk from Moesay village. According to a local resident, the military council forces are conducting these raids throughout Letpadan area as part of their 12th military recruitment drive, targeting any gatherings they encounter in the villages. The source revealed that after arrests, the military demands hundreds of millions of kyats in ransom, and even after receiving payment, they continue to detain the victims, threatening further torture and abuse. This systematic campaign of arrests and extortion has severely impacted the local communities, forcing many young people to flee their homes and disrupting daily life in the affected areas.
