Local humanitarian groups and surveillance teams in Minbu Township, Magway Region, report that military forces are now entering tea shops, beer stations, and construction material stores to forcibly recruit young people as porters. During September, the military has intensified porter recruitment operations in both Minbu and Salin townships, conducting raids both day and night. The military’s operations have expanded beyond checkpoints at road intersections, now actively entering establishments to arrest young customers and staff members.
On September 13th evening, military forces raided Htun Kyaw Thant Construction Materials Store in Minbu town, arresting young staff members under the pretext of military service. Additionally, they have been conducting night raids on tea shops and beer stations, checking identification cards and forcibly taking those without proper documentation as porters. Similar intensive porter recruitment operations are also occurring in Salin town. The General Administration Office in Minbu Township has verbally instructed firefighters and humanitarian workers to submit name lists if they need to conduct rescue operations or respond to fire emergencies after 6 PM, and to avoid unnecessary outdoor movement.
Throughout Minbu Township, the military is specifically targeting young people for forced porter service. Recently, two youths returning from the Shwe Taung Gyi Festival were arrested and forced into porter service after VPN applications were found on their phones. On September 11th, a young person from Shwe Yaung Taw village was arrested and forced into porter service at Kywe Toe Myaing village for riding a motorcycle without a license during a vehicle inspection. The military junta has opened its 17th batch of military service recruitment starting from September 15th.
