His father, U Kyaw Win told Narinjara that he was very worried about his son, Mg Win Oo (aka) Thar Aung Gyi, because he is only 19 years old and mentally handicapped.

He said: “My son works as a farmer for a farmland owner. While he was working there soldiers took him. They were from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 379 based in Minbya Township. As he is mentally handicapped I am very worried for him.”

After his son had disappeared he tried to find out where he was and discovered he was in LIB 379.

U Kyaw Win said: “Because he is mentally handicapped he only studied to grade one. I told the village administrator not to issue a recommendation letter [stating that he could join the army] because he is mentally handicapped, but the village administrator said that the army forced him to give permission for him to be recruited.”

For someone to join the army he must have: a national identification card; a letter from his school giving him permission to leave; the village administrator’s recommendation confirming the recruit is of good morals; confirmation from the police station that he does not have a criminal record; and a copy of the family registration document, Col. Than Oo the government army joint chief quartermaster told journalists at a workshop designed to improve the flow of news from the army to the media which was held in Yangon Township on 20th December.

Those who want to join the army must also be in good health and have to have passed their primary education.

Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI