After the Conscription Law Was Enacted, Youth Disappearances Became More Frequent

Pajau Media Channel

22nd February, 2024

After the State Administration Council (SAC) enacted the conscription law on February 10th, there has been a series of youth disappearances from Myitkyina and Waing Maw, with no contact established for over a week.

A youth from the 'Lawka Alinn' Youth Rehabilitation Center went missing while he was out to purchase a phone top-up card in Waing Maw Muk Kyaik Village. It has been over a week since anyone has been able to establish contact with him.

“He left the Center in the morning to purchase a phone top-up card. Later in the evening, he sought permission from the head of the dormitory, stating that he had some matters to attend to at his relative’s house and would not be returning to the dormitory. The dormitory head informed him that staying overnight outside of the center violates the center's rules and instructed him to return on time. However, after that conversation, we were unable to reach him by phone," explained the in-charge of the Center.

According to U Tang Ding who is the in-charge of the Center, the missing young man is around 26 years old and it has been more than 10 years since he came to the rehabilitation center. He also said that he is good at leading in general activities at the Center and is a reliable trainee.

Subsequently, two youths, aged around 17 years old, hailing from Wa Shawng Village, ventured to Waing Maw Town with the intention of purchasing a motorbike. However, they have not been in contact with their families since then, up until today.

Local residents are asserting that following the reissuance of the conscription law on February 10 this year, which had initially been enacted on November 4, 2010, there has been a notable increase in the disappearance of youth.

The family members expressed their distress, stating that they have no information regarding the whereabouts of the missing youth, nor do they know which authorities or forces may have taken them. Additionally, there was a reported incident where two youths from Manghkring Ward, Myitkyina, went to their aunt’s house to deliver a motorbike but disappeared without any contact on their way back home. This occurred on February 16th, at approximately 7:00 PM.

In recent days, there has been a surge in the arrest of numerous young individuals, with some reported as missing. These occurrences are attributed to recruitment efforts by various factions, including the State Administration Council (SAC), anti-coup armed forces, and the People’s Defense Forces

News- Lay Pyay