αααΊαΈαα±α¬αΊ π₯ The young men who were dragged as porters were paid over 30 lakhs kyats to be ransomed
Two young men who came to the Popa Bodaw spirit festival held at the Mount Popa in Kyaukpadaung Township, Mandalay Region, were dragged as porters and taken to the 78th Infantry Battalion by the military junta.
On September 8, during the Bodaw spirit festival held at the Mount Popa, two local young men who had come to the traditional spirit festival were arrested by the military junta soldiers at gunpoint while they were going to the toilet.
The two young men were from the Popa area and used to attend the traditional Popa Bodaw spirit festival held annually, but this was the first time they were dragged as porters this year.
In addition, the two young men were initially detained for a short period of time and taken to the 78th Infantry
Battalion, but when they arrived at the camp, they were given a choice between military service and imprisonment.
βTwo people from our village were arrested. They went to the toilet for a while during the Bodaw spirit festival and were taken at gunpoint. They were taken to the 78th Infantry Battalion. When they got there, they told them they wanted military service or imprisonment,β
a local resident of Popa told BBM. The 78th Infantry Battalion, which is also known as Anawrahta Battalion by locals, is located near the Kyaukpadaung-Myingyan road.
Besides, in addition to the 2 young men who were recruited during the Bodaw spirit festival, there are also some young men who were recruited for various reasons.
The local resident also said that one of the two young men who were kidnapped during the Popa Bodaw spirit festival was ransomed by the military for 35 lakhs kyats from the 78th Infantry Regiment, and the other was ransomed by the military for 51 lakhs kyats in Minbu because his family only found out about it two days later.
βOne of the two men was ransomed by his own people and was released at 7pm. He had to pay 35 lakhs kyats. The other was ransomed for 51 lakhs kyats. He was brought back to Kyaukpadaung after crossing Minbu. I donβt know which army he was sent to,β
the local said. Not only these incidents, but also in the first week of September in Popa, there were also incidents in which the military had to ransom 2 local young men who were on a passenger bus going from Kyaukpadaung to Popa with money.
The military junta will soon open a 17th batch military service training, and even before the training begins, there are reports of more recruitment drives not only in Popa and Kyaukpadaung areas, but also in other areas under their control.
Photo-Old photo
