A 27-year-old man named Ko Phyo from Man Kauk village in Saku Township, Magway Region, was arrested by military forces and released only after his family paid a ransom of 12 million kyats. The incident occurred on September 15 when military personnel entered his home and took him to the Saku Township General Administration Office. Family members were forced to pay the substantial sum to secure his release. Ko Phyo, who was recently married, comes from modest means and faces significant financial hardship.
According to local residents, the military forces have been conducting brazen daytime raids in villages, causing widespread fear among inhabitants. The entire Kyauk San village tract has been experiencing continuous forced porter arrests, adding to the burden of villagers who are already struggling with their daily survival. The village tract administrators, Maung Myint Than and Nyo Maung, have been identified as collaborators working for the military forces, facilitating these operations in the area. The local community has been severely impacted by these arrests and extortion demands, particularly given their already challenging economic circumstances.
A similar incident occurred in Monywa, Sagaing Region, where military forces arrested two young men on Union Road. The incident took place at approximately 5:56 PM on September 16, when military personnel using five vehicles apprehended two young men who were commuting from work. The victims, estimated to be in their early twenties, were taken away in civilian vehicles, and their current whereabouts remain unknown. Local witnesses reported that the military forces used unmarked civilian vehicles for the operation, making it difficult to track their movements or destination. These incidents represent a continuing pattern of forced porter arrests and extortion by military forces across different regions of Myanmar, causing significant distress and financial hardship for local communities.
