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, military council troops and Pyu Saw Htee members arrived by vehicle at the Football Field Monastery in San Ywar Tan Ward, Thonze Town, Thayarwady Township, and forcibly took away 17-year-old novice monk Thawbita (also known as Maung Thet Paing Ye). Local residents stated that Novice Thawbita had only been ordained for about two months when he was taken.
Similarly, in Minhla town’s Ward 6, military council forces forcibly recruited nine young people. On March 18, military troops 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 are nephews of Ward 6 administrator Bun Toe were arrested for failing to show tax receipts for their scrap metal trading 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 forces near Kauk Kwe Tan village while returning from Sha Pin Kwe village where he had gone for business related to beans and rice. The military council has also posted warnings in front of the Minhla Township General Administration Office prohibiting travel between 11 PM and 3 AM. These arbitrary arrests and extortion by military council forces have caused great concern and fear among local residents.
