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 approximately 10:30 AM, military council troops and Pyu Saw Htee members arrived by vehicle at the Football Field Monastery in San Shwe Tan Ward, Thonze Town, Thayarwaddy Township, and forcibly recruited 17-year-old novice monk Thawbita (also known as Maung Thet Paing Htet). Local residents confirmed that Novice Thawbita had only been ordained for about two months when he was taken.
In Minhla town, military council forces also forcibly recruited nine youths from Ward 6. On March 18, military troops visited May Restaurant in Ward 6 of Minhla town. When they were refused alcohol 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 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 Ward 6 of Minhla was arrested by military council forces at Kauk Kwe Tan village while returning from Sha Pin Kwe village where he had gone for rice and bean trading business. The military council has also posted warnings in front of the General Administration Office in Minhla town prohibiting travel between 11 PM and 3 AM. These forced recruitments and arbitrary arrests by the military council have caused significant fear and security concerns among local residents, who now live in constant anxiety about their daily safety.
