Local residents report that the military council forces have forcibly recruited 18 young people, including a novice monk, for military service in Thonze and Minhla towns of Bago Region. On March 19 at around 10:30 AM, soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee militia members arrived in vehicles at the Football Field Monastery in San Yway Tan Ward, Thonze Town, and forcibly took away 17-year-old novice monk Thawbita (also known as Maung Thet Paing Ye). Novice Thawbita had only been ordained as a monk for about two months when he was taken.
Similarly, in Minhla town’s Ward 6, military council troops forcibly recruited nine young people. On March 18, soldiers visited May Restaurant in Ward 6 of Minhla town to drink alcohol. When they were refused service, they arrested six waiters. The restaurant owner had to pay 20 million kyats to secure their release. Additionally, two Hindu brothers who were nephews of the Ward 6 administrator were arrested for failing to show tax receipts for their scrap metal business. They were released after paying 5 million kyats.
A resident from North New Town Street 4 in Minhla’s Ward 6 was arrested by military council troops near Kauk Kwe Tan village while returning from Sha Pin Kwe village where he had gone for matters related to beans and rice farming. The military council has also posted notices in front of the General Administration Department office in Minhla town prohibiting travel between 11 PM and 3 AM. Local sources report that the military council continues to engage in forced recruitment, extortion, and restrictions on civilian movement in the area.
