Over 70 Youths Forcibly Abducted for Military Service in Sagaing as Representative Remains Silent
Military junta forces launched a widespread sweep in Sagaing City on January 20, forcibly detaining approximately 70 young men for mandatory military service, according to local residents. The mass arrests took place in the constituency of retired Lieutenant General U Thet Pon, a member of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) who was recently declared the winner of the junta’s election for the Pyithu Hluttaw.
The operation reportedly began early yesterday morning, with junta troops patrolling the city’s main roads on foot to avoid detection. “They arrested between 70 and 80 people,” a local witness told CJ Platform. “They left their vehicles at a distance and walked into neighborhoods to surprise people. One young man was even snatched from in front of a pharmacy while simply standing there.”
The climate of fear has paralyzed the city’s economy. Residents report that many youths are fleeing Sagaing to avoid the draft. “The situation here is more dire than anywhere else. It’s devastating,” another male resident said. “Business owners are afraid to visit, and even tuk-tuk drivers from nearby Mandalay now refuse to take passengers to Sagaing.”
Since the beginning of January, nearly 100 people, including travelers and local residents, have been detained at major intersections and along the Mandalay-Monywa highway. These arbitrary abductions coincide with the formal delivery of conscription notices to homes by the Township Conscription Team on January 15 and 16.
The military junta is reportedly struggling to meet its monthly quota of 5,000 recruits under the People’s Military Service Law. Despite having completed 20 training batches by late 2025, the junta continues to target young men through both formal summons and street-level “portering” to replenish its ranks.
Despite the widespread human rights violations in his district, U Thet Pon—the retired general representing Sagaing—has remained silent. No attempts have been made by the representative to intervene or address the grievances of the constituents currently being targeted by these forced abductions.
Note: This news has been translated and presented using AI.