Over 50 young people were forcibly detained as porters by the military forces in Chauk Township, Magway Region during the Thingyan Festival period and are currently being held at Infantry Battalion 13, according to local residents. The military forces set up roadblocks near Mon Gyi Restaurant at the entrance of Chauk town and arrested youths on motorcycles between April 13 and 17. The detained youths were returning from celebrating the Thingyan Festival when they were arrested. Their family members have not been allowed any contact with them since their detention.
In Thaungdwingyi town, six police officers entered homes in Shwe Oh 1 Ward on the evening of April 17 and arrested four youths, including 22-year-old Maung Zin and 25-year-old Maung Ko Phone (also known as Maung Htay Hlaing). According to local residents, one of the arrested person’s wives is pregnant. The arrests were reportedly made after ward administrator San Nyein refused to allow the youths to be released in exchange for money to serve as porters for the military.
In Thayarwady Township, Bago Region, military council-appointed administrators have also been leading raids to arrest youths from their homes. On April 3 evening, Village Tract Administrator Nyein Lwin, hundred-households head Ngay Lay (aka Than Kyaw Linn), and Pyu Saw Htee member Lin Lin Maung led the arrest of Ko Aung Khine Phyo from his home in Ywa Gyi Kone Ward. Additionally, on April 1, Bedinkone Ward Administrator Tin Maung Than led the forcible arrest of Ko Yan Shin Kyaw from his home on Kan Thayar Road. Ko Yan Shin Kyaw was the sole provider for his mother and middle school-aged sister.
