On February 17th, a list of male residents from the Kyauktalone Muslim internally displaced people (IDP) camp in Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State, was compiled, and 150 among them were being coerced into military service.
A young man from the IDP camp reported that on February 17th, the Kyauktalone IDP camp management committee compiled a list of male IDPs aged 18 to 55, informing them they were required to serve in the military.
"Yesterday, three individuals, including U Maw Ni from the camp management committee, gathered the names for military service. They reviewed our records and ages before compiling the list," he told Narinjara.
He noted that although the conscription law, which the 'terrorist' Military Council plans to enforce, applies to individuals aged 18 to 35, the list compiled at the IDP camp included those aged 18 to 55.
"The list was compiled for individuals aged 18 to 55 years old, not just up to 35 years old," the young Muslim IDP said.Only IDP men were included in the list, with women being excluded.
According to a young human rights activist from Kyaukphyu Township, IDPs are reporting that the Junta is pressuring the Kyauktalone IDP camp management to provide 150 individuals for military service within a week and threatening to arrest all who refuse to comply.
"We have received reports from IDPs. They have informed us that the camp is required to supply 150 individuals for military service within a week. If this quota is not met, the Junta has threatened to arrest everyone," he said.
Narinjara attempted to contact Kyauktlone IDP camp administrator U Maw Ni over the phone regarding the issue but was unable to reach him.
In Kyauktalone IDP camp, there are more than 300 households and over 1,000 people who have been displaced from urban wards such as Ah Yar Shi, Pike Seik, Than Ban Chaung, and Toe Chae in Kyaukphyu Township due to conflicts since 2012.
On February 10th, the Junta began enforcing the mandatory military service law, acting as a true dictator without the people's consent.
