In Laymyethna Township of Ayeyarwady Region, the military council is forcing villages to send seven people each to attend mandatory people’s militia training, threatening to designate villages that refuse as rebel territories. According to local sources, this forced recruitment campaign began in early September, with the military council pressuring villages through local administrators to send participants on a rotating basis. The military is currently conducting these training sessions at Setanapingin, targeting multiple villages in the township.
The affected villages include Taungsin, Thanpayakone, Kyetpaingkone, Kyeepin, Kyauktalone, and Pinneikwin, among others. Each village is required to send seven residents for training through local administrators acting on behalf of the military council. On September 16, seven residents from Kyetpaingkone village were taken to Setanapingin to begin their training. Local sources indicate that this training is intended to force civilians to participate in military operations, effectively conscripting them into service against their will.
The military council’s coercive recruitment has created significant fear and anxiety among local residents. Villages face the stark choice of either complying with the demands or being labeled as rebel territories, which could lead to severe consequences for entire communities. This forced recruitment campaign represents a clear violation of civilian rights and fundamental freedoms, as local residents are compelled to participate in military activities against their will. The situation has created a climate of fear and uncertainty in the township, with villagers having no choice but to comply with the military’s demands despite their reluctance to participate in such activities.
