Around 100 former soldiers who were recently released from Pathein Prison in Ayeyarwady Region have been sent to the Military Training Corps No. 6 in Kwin Kauk, according to families and people close to the released soldiers.
The 107 released ex-soldiers from the prison and nearby Hngetpauk Prion Camp were handed over to the custody of a military council colonel on 7 December, according to a person close to Pathein prison.
“They were taken away in four FAW military vehicles. They were sentenced to prison for various offenses. Some for desertion and others for criminal offenses. Some were about to finish their sentences. We have heard that they will be forced back into military service,” said the person close to the Pathein prison.
A family member of a released ex-soldier said she had inquired at Pathein Prison when she heard that the detained soldiers would be released and found that they had been drafted back into the military.
The mother of a released ex-soldier said, “My son deserted from the military after going AWOL because he did not want to serve anymore. As a result, he was arrested and given a harsh prison sentence for desertion. He was due to be released in about a month after completing his sentence. But I only found out yesterday that he has been sent to the Kwin Kauk training corps”
A former military officer said the law prohibits people imprisoned for desertion, felonies or other offenses from being forced back into military service after serving their sentences in civilian prisons.
“If they want to send them back to the military, they can only send them to a military prison. But now the military imposes harsh sentences of four to five years in prison, so they can’t refuse. Before, the sentences were only six months to a year. Why should someone who does not want to serve be forced to rejoin?”
The released ex-servicemen were forcibly drafted back into military service after just two weeks of training regardless of their wishes, according to a person close to the Kwin Kauk Military Training Corps.
“In the past, they were promised promotions when they came back. Most of them don’t want to return. They are just lifeless bodies without any enthusiasm,” said the person close to the training corps.
On 3 December, the military regime announced that it would accept AWOL soldiers, deserters and ex-soldiers back into military service to replenish its depleted forces.
Since then, former soldiers who were imprisoned for unauthorized absence, desertion or other crimes have been released from civilian prisons.
Sent by NMG.