Local residents reported that the military council forces have forcibly recruited 18 young people, including a novice monk named Thawbita, for military service in Thonze and Minhla towns of Bago Region. On March 19 at approximately 10:30 AM, military council troops and Pyu Saw Htee members arrested 17-year-old novice monk Thawbita (also known as Maung Thet Paing Yay) from the football field monastery in San Shwe Tan Ward, Thonze Town, Thayarwaddy Township. The novice monk, who had only been ordained for about two months, was forcibly taken away in a vehicle by soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee members near the football field monastery.
Similarly, in Minhla town’s Ward 6, military council forces arrested nine young people. On March 18, military troops arrested six waiters at May Restaurant in Ward 6 of Minhla town over a dispute when they refused to serve alcohol to soldiers. The restaurant owner had to pay 20 million kyats to secure their release. Additionally, two Hindu brothers, who were relatives 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 at Kauk Kwe Tan village while returning from Sha Pin Kwe village where he had gone for business related to beans and rice. Furthermore, the military council troops posted warnings in front of the Minhla Township General Administration Office prohibiting travel between 11 PM and 3 AM. Local residents stated that these acts of forced recruitment for military service and extortion of money demonstrate the military council’s brutal actions against innocent civilians.
