Family members report that Ko Kaung Zay, a man with mental health conditions residing in Pyin Oo Lwin Road, 38th Ward, North Dagon Township, Yangon Region, was forcibly taken by the military as a porter. The incident occurred around 10 AM on March 3, 2025, when Ko Kaung Zay went out to buy snacks from his home. Ko Kaung Zay is a regular patient who requires ongoing medication for his mental health condition and receives monthly treatment at a mental health hospital. Despite filing a missing person report, the family has received no information about his whereabouts to date.
Additionally, in Magway Region’s Salin and Sin Phyu Kyun townships, the military has forcibly detained more than 15 civilians as porters. On September 2nd and 3rd, they arrested young people who were shopping in the market and others from residential areas. Those who attempted to flee were shot at by the military. The detained individuals were taken to the Salin Township Police Station and later transferred to Battalion 253, located south of Salin. At least five young people were confirmed arrested in Salin, with numerous others detained in Sin Phyu Kyun. One person who attempted to escape sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.
Reports indicate that the military has armed Pyu Saw Htee members and offers rewards ranging from 300,000 to 400,000 kyats for each civilian captured. This forced conscription of civilians as porters represents one of many human rights violations committed by the military, with activists particularly highlighting the unethical nature of detaining individuals with mental health conditions, which violates international standards. The practice of forcing civilians, especially vulnerable individuals, into porter service continues to be a significant concern in various regions of Myanmar, demonstrating the military’s ongoing disregard for civilian rights and well-being.
