On the evening of May 6th in Yangon, when civilians evacuated buildings due to an earthquake, military council forces and ward administrators seized several young people for military conscription. The earthquake, measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale, occurred near Zarap Field in Hlegu Township, with its epicenter at a depth of 10 kilometers. The tremor caused residents across Yangon to flee from high-rise buildings onto the streets for safety.
In Hlaing Township’s Ward 1, specifically on Zeyar Thidi 2 Street, while people were still on the streets due to earthquake concerns, the ward administrator and soldiers arrested a young man who was reportedly on their conscription list. According to friends of the arrested youth, the ward administrator also threatened other young people in the area, stating that they too would have to serve in the military when their time comes. The incident occurred while residents were still outside their buildings, concerned about potential aftershocks.
Currently, throughout Yangon Region, military council forces, police, Pyu Saw Htee members, and ward administration teams are employing various methods to arrest young people for military service. These methods include checking guest registration lists, conducting night patrols, and arresting young people returning from work in the evening. This systematic forced recruitment has caused significant concern among families, with some having to flee their homes to protect their young family members from conscription. The military council’s aggressive recruitment tactics have created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in communities, particularly affecting young people who are now at risk of being forcibly conscripted into military service.
