File Photo
Mizzima
About 40 male civilians were abducted by junta soldiers in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region, on 11 February 2024, the day after the National Military Service law was enacted, by the junta.
The men were abducted near Tamakone Village on the Monywa to Mandalay Road in Monywa Township by about 20 junta soldiers, based in Sagaing Toewnship’s Hnonetwin Village, between 10:00 am and 11:00 am on 11 February.
The soldiers stopped cars on the road and abducted any male occupants that they found. Locals worry that they were abducted to be conscripted into the army under the newly enacted National Military Service law which says that men aged between 18 and 45 years and women aged between 18 and 35 must all serve two years in the Myanmar Army or face five years in prison.
“It’s true, the junta soldiers abducted about 40 civilians. They abducted people who were travelling [along the road]”, said a resident of Tamakone Village.
According to sources who spoke to Mizzima, the abducted men were taken to the headquarters of No. 72 Armoured Operations Command, which is between the villages Nyaungpinwun and Ohntaw in Sagaing Township, and are still being held there.
In response to the abductions, the public was advised to exercise caution and refrain from unnecessary travel by the Sagaing Township’s True News Information Team, a National Unity Government (NUG) organisation that reports on the revolution.
A representative from a local people’s defence force (PDF) said: “I believe they’ve begun unlawfully detaining civilians. It seems the junta is illegally abducting people, possibly to work as porters for the military in battles, following the implementation of the Conscription Law. This activity has commenced in Sagaing, with civilians being detained and questioned.”
The National Military Service Law was enacted by General Than Shwe, the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, on 4 November 2010, but never enforced until Min Aung Hlaing announced it would be enacted on 10 February 2024.
Since that enactment, there have also been other reported abductions by the junta army.
According to a local PDF source, many people were abducted in Ahlae and Shwetaung Oo wards in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region on 11 and 12 February. Initial reports suggest that over 50 people were arrested, however, the exact number of arrests has not been confirmed.
The army also abducted people from Natyekan Village In Chaung-U Township in Sagaing Region on the evening of 11 February. Later they released three of them after they had interrogated them. But, the soldiers confiscated their mobile phones and said that if they villagers wanted them returned they would have to go to the junta military camp to pick them u
