Three passengers traveling on the Moe Thauk Haing Ni bus service from Yangon to Salin and Sinphyukyun were forcibly detained by the military forces to serve as porters. The incident occurred on September 6th, when one male and two female passengers returning from Yangon were arrested at different military checkpoints along their journey. According to Ko Pyae Thu, the news correspondent from People’s Alliance-Salin, the military forces arrested the male passenger at the Magway-Kanpyar checkpoint, while the two female passengers were detained at a checkpoint along the Taungnyoe road section.
The detained male passenger, aged 32, was identified as a resident of Sinmagyun village in Salin Township, while the residential details of the two female passengers remain unknown. In a similar incident on September 4th, military forces raided a Korean language training school in Chauk town and forcibly took thirteen young men, all around 20 years of age, to serve as porters. These incidents of forced civilian conscription as porters have severely impacted the daily security and safety of local residents in the region.
The military forces have been systematically engaging in forced labor practices across various regions, specifically targeting travelers and young people for conscription as porters. These human rights violations have resulted in the loss of civilians’ freedom of movement and basic rights, creating an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among local communities as they struggle to maintain their daily lives. The ongoing practice of forced portering has become a significant concern for residents, who face constant uncertainty and risk while traveling or conducting their regular activities.
