In Pathein Township, Ayeyarwady Region, Major Zaw Naing, who serves as both a member of the Township Administration Team and head of the Military Service Recruitment Committee, has threatened to imprison parents under Section 26 of the People’s Military Service Law if their children flee to avoid military service or fail to return from abroad for conscription. The military council is forcing young people to sign agreements for military service at township recruitment offices, and has warned that parents of those who evade service will face one-year imprisonment.
The military official has declared that families must recall their children who are currently abroad and registered for military service. If young people are absent when called for duty, their parents and relatives will face prosecution under Section 26 of the People’s Military Service Law, with potential sentences of up to three years in prison. Major Zaw Naing stated that by arresting and detaining parents, they aim to pressure young people abroad to return. He further threatened that returning youth would face two years imprisonment before being forced into military service.
Meanwhile, in Laymyethna Township, the military council forcibly arrested six young men for porter duty. On March 1st in the afternoon, military council troops invaded homes in San village and Seintei village, forcibly taking three young men from each village. The families of those arrested are deeply worried as they have no information about where their loved ones have been taken. Local residents report that the military entered private homes to carry out these arrests, demonstrating an escalation of their forced recruitment tactics. Section 26 of the People’s Military Service Law stipulates that anyone found guilty of assisting in evading military service can face up to one year in prison, a fine, or both punishments.
