The military council is sealing off the houses of local people who fled to escape the military service law in some villages of DaikU Township of Bago Region, according to local residents.
Since February, the military council has been threatening and forcing civilians to serve in the military.
Some local residents who do not want to serve in the military have fled their homes. Their houses have been sealed off, said a villager who declined to be named.
“Houses of the people who are not eligible for military service were sealed off by the army. Now the army has sealed off four or five houses. Now no one dares to flee as they fear that their houses will be sealed off. The situation will be worse if the army seals off farms. The army doesn’t seal off houses in the villages where the people agree to serve in the army,” the villager said.
The military is recruiting not only young men but also old men for military service.
The villager said: “Those who do not join the military have to provide a monthly assistance of 200,000 Kyats for those who join the army. The army is sealing off the houses and threatens to torch the village if they fail to serve in the army. The residents no longer dare to live in their villages as they don’t pay money.”
With the widespread recruitment of people for military service in townships and villages in Bago Region including DaikU Township within a few days after the military council activated the People’s Military Service Law, young people who are eligible for military service are forced to flee their homes in various ways.
“Like Bago, the similar cases were reported in the brigades in the Karen National Union (KNU)-controlled territories. This is the result of the military service law. The military is more blatantly committing than before, causing a danger to the public’s security. We will continue to face this situation across the country, including Karen State,” said Saw Nanda Hsue, Director of Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG).
The KHRG issued a statement on 6 March saying that, from a human rights point of view, the military service law has led to the loss of future expectations of youths, and the remaining family members have to live a life of fear. It is a serious violation of human rights and has pushed them to commit serious crimes.
Sent by KIC.