On September 4, military forces raided a Korean language school in Chauk, Magway Region, and arrested 13 young people around the age of 20 as porters, according to Ko Pyae Thu, news coordinator of People’s Comrades-Salin. Among those arrested were one person from Yayponkyun village and six from Letpankyun village in Salin Township, while the addresses of the remaining youth are yet to be confirmed. All detained individuals are currently being held at the Chauk Police Station.
Providing more details about the incident, the People’s Comrades-Salin news coordinator explained that the military specifically targeted male students at the training school, leaving female students untouched. All arrested individuals were reported to be around twenty years of age. Additionally, on September 3, the military had arrested two young people from Sinkyun village in Salin Township and demanded seventy million kyats for their release.
Similarly, a woman was arrested by the military at the Family House restaurant in Salin Township, and negotiations are currently underway between family members and the military regarding a monetary settlement for her release. These incidents of arbitrary arrests and extortion by the military have become a regular occurrence in the region, causing significant concern and fear among local residents. The pattern of arrests and subsequent demands for ransom has created an atmosphere of insecurity and distress within the community, particularly affecting young people seeking education and better opportunities.
