Residents of Thandwe Township in Rakhine State said that the Myanmar military council is compelling local inhabitants to undergo military training, purportedly for community security purposes.
According to accounts provided on February 27th, individuals from villages including Rephyuai, Menang Kwin, Gonzarat, and Maday, as well as Zalon Village approximately 10 miles distant from Thandwe Town, were reportedly mandated to participate in military service.
An eyewitness from Thandwe disclosed, “Various groups are implementing this measure within villages. In Zalon, a meeting was convened yesterday, during which attendees were subject to a vote. The individual selected through this process was obliged to undergo 14 days of military training.
Eyewitnesses further reported that among those selected through the voting process were over 20 young individuals from Zalon Village, including Ko Khant Thi Hanaung, Ye Htet Aung, and Zaw Paing.
Residents stated that the selection process entailed recruiting groups of 5 individuals from villages with significant populations. “In villages with considerable populace, 5 individuals are selected from each locality. Each group comprises 20 individuals, typically consisting of young people aged between 18 and 40,” elucidated a local witness.
Village inhabitants expressed concern over the coerced enlistment, asserting that those selected did not volunteer for military service but were instead compelled to do so through a lottery system.
This development echoes previous instances of forced recruitment. On February 11, residents of Lintha Ward in Ngapali, Thandwe Town District, reported the arbitrary apprehension of 11 young men by the Military Council for compulsory military service.
Observers note a concerning trend emerging in Rakhine State following the enactment of the military service law, with both Rakhine and Muslim youth being coerced into military service.
In a separate incident on February 27, residents of Kyauk Phyu revealed that the Military Council had forcibly detained over 100 Muslims from the Kyauktalone refugee camp in Kyaukphyu, allegedly to conscript them into military service.
General Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the Military Council, refuted allegations of coercing Muslims into military service in a recent statement.
