Ko Zin Bo Bo, a graduate of the 6th military training batch from Kangyidaunt Township in Ayeyarwady Region, has died in frontline battles at the border of Shan State and Karenni State. He was a young man from Yayweisay village tract who had joined the military as a paid substitute soldier. According to local sources, he was killed during combat operations on March 10, and military council troops came to inform his family of his death. The deceased soldier’s situation highlights the ongoing practice of forced recruitment and the use of paid substitutes in military service.
Ko Zin Bo Bo’s mother had passed away about a year ago, leaving behind only his father, who is suffering from a stroke. His father is reportedly deeply distressed and grief-stricken by the news of his son’s death. The military has not provided any compensation or benefits to the family for Ko Zin Bo Bo’s death. Meanwhile, in the Yayweisay village tract, the military-appointed administrator Htun Aung is demanding 13 young people from various villages including Yaywartha, Ohntha, Kyunlachaungphyar, and Takhonhtaing for military service, causing many local youths to flee their homes to avoid forced recruitment.
According to local residents, the military council is attempting to forcibly recruit young people across various regions, using both financial incentives and threats of coercion. Those who refuse military service face arrest, while their family members are subjected to pressure and intimidation. This pattern of forced recruitment has led to numerous casualties among young people and has caused significant hardship for families throughout the region. Local sources report that these aggressive recruitment tactics continue to devastate communities, with young people either being forced into service or having to abandon their homes to avoid conscription. The military council’s actions have created a climate of fear and uncertainty in these areas, with families facing the difficult choice between allowing their young members to serve in the military or facing potential consequences for refusal.
