TANINTHARYI DIVISION – Men within the age range for military conscription have been banned from crossing the border in Kawthoung, according to residents.
The junta council’s departments reportedly restricted men between the age of 18 and 35 from crossing the border starting September 2. However, it is also said that the men holding Kawthoung identification cards are not effected by said ban.
“Only young men holding the Kawthoung identification cards are allowed to leave the country. Those from the upper region are banned from leaving,” said a resident.
Women, on the other hand, are able to leave the country freely regardless of their age or origin.
Previously, any one could leave the country at that border gate and enter Thailand as long as they have a seven-day temporary border pass (TBP), two-year border pass (BP), or passport.
Since announcing the conscription law, the junta council has been using various methods to restrict the men within the conscription age range from leaving the country.
People have been turned back at the international airports for no reason and there are also multiple cases of people getting abducted by the junta forces then put into the army. Moreover, the junta council has also conscripted the Myanmar citizens who were sent back to Myanmar after serving prison time in Thailand for overstaying.
