Local residents report that a young man named Ko Ange Lay died after being beaten by soldiers when he allegedly tried to escape during forced porter recruitment by the military in Myaungmyo, Bago Region. On February 24, military troops arrested Ko Ange Lay, an orphan, and another unidentified youth who lived on Phaya Gyi Kyaung Road in Thakin Hla Shein Ward, Myaungmyo. They were detained at the General Administration Office. On February 27, Pyu Saw Htee members Thant Htwe and Htay Gyi, along with military officers, severely beat both young men inside the office, claiming they were planning to escape.
Due to severe injuries from the beating, Ko Ange Lay was taken to Myaungmyo Hospital by the military. However, due to excessive blood loss, he died while preparations were being made to transfer him to Thayarwady Hospital. The other unidentified youth remains in critical condition at Myaungmyo Hospital, receiving ongoing medical treatment. Local residents said that Ko Ange Lay was a humanitarian worker who collected donations at Maha Thumingala Pagoda on the outskirts of Myaungmyo. He was an orphan with no living relatives, known for his pure heart and willingness to help others.
Meanwhile, in Barlar village of Hlegu Township, Yangon Region, the village administrator and his team members are forcibly collecting military service fees from over 400 youth eligible for military service. Since February 24, village administrator Zaw Zaw Htun and his team members Zin Min, Myint Than, Htun Htun, San Nyunt, Sein Than, and Thant Zaw Oo have been summoning young villagers to Thathanaparla Monastery for meetings to demand military service fees. They initially collected 40,000 kyats per person in the first round, followed by 20,000 kyats in the second round, and 30,000 kyats per person from the third round onwards. They have already collected fees five times, with a total of seven rounds of collection so far. Local residents are worried about further fee collections.
