The military council forces raided Myathindan Monastery in Pazundaung Township, Yangon Region, and forcibly took six young people as porters, according to local residents. The incident occurred around 10:22 PM on July 31, 2023, when military council troops forcefully entered the monastery premises without any authorization. During the raid, they arrested and took away a total of six young people, including five individuals who were taking shelter at the monastery and one person from the monastery staff. The victims were between 24 and 30 years of age.
According to a local resident, the military council troops specifically targeted these young people to use them as forced porters. This raid on a religious establishment and the arrest of innocent civilians represents another instance of the military council’s brutal actions, which also desecrate the dignity of religious institutions, as pointed out by local residents. There is significant concern for the safety and lives of the arrested young people, while their family members are experiencing severe distress and worry over their fate.
The military council regularly engages in the practice of forcing civilians to serve as porters and human shields in their military operations, actions that violate international law and human rights standards, as noted by human rights observers. This incident serves as further evidence of the military council’s ongoing brutality against civilians and demonstrates their disregard even for religious institutions such as monasteries. The pattern of forced labor and arbitrary arrests continues to be a significant human rights concern in areas under military council control, with civilians being particularly vulnerable to such abuses. The raid on Myathindan Monastery highlights the military council’s continuing disregard for both religious sanctity and basic human rights.
