MYANMAR – It is reported that the terrorist junta council has forcibly conscripted underaged teenagers by issuing them fake IDs during the fifth batch of conscription.
Several teenagers were abducted from Pauktaw Village Tract in Oaktwin Township, Bago Division and the junta forces took them to nearby immigration office, issued them fake IDs and sent them to attend military training. Even though the parents and relatives tried to get them out of conscription as they were minors, it is said that their attempts were futile.
“By underaged, we mean some of them were 17 and some were 16 when they were taken. Their bodies may be grown but they have not turned 18 yet. Despite that, they were abducted and the junta council then took them to nearby immigration department and issued them IDs that would make them 18. Then they were immediately sent to No. 6 Advance Military Training School, Taungoo in Oaktwin Township. The parents went after them but were unable to do anything. Now, they’ve got contact with them. The teenagers are attending the batch 5 of military training,” said an activist who tried to bring the teenagers out of the army.
Similar events also took place in Thaketha Township of Yangon Division and Pyigyitagun Township of Mandalay Division where the junta forces colluded with immigration officers to forcibly conscript teenagers who have yet to turn 18. It is said that those teenagers were either abducted or taken during household registration checks.
The terrorist junta council has been abducting and forcibly conscripting many young people across the country as they were unable to meet the conscription quota for the fifth batch. They even pressured factories and workshops to send their workers to the military, ordering some restaurants in Nay Pyi Taw in particular to send their workers to serve in the army.
