Sankhlaburi (August 28): The Burmese Army’s Infantry Battalion 32 recruited five young people from the Thai-Burma border town of 'Three Pagoda" last week. Among the five young people, one young recruit escaped with injuries and reached the border. Kaowao news agency interviewed him yesterday.

The youth, who escaped is Maung Kyaw Soe (15) and lived with his parents in 'Three Pagoda' town. The Burmese Army took away five young people including Maung Kyaw Soe without knowledge of their parents on August 17.

"When I was playing, a soldier called me. So I went with him and was not allowed to go back. The other boys are also there. Two boys are older than me while two boys are younger than me. I don't know their names. We stayed with soldiers at a temple for a night; then the military column left 'Three Pagodas' the next day. The five of us were separated and we had to carry army equipment like a porter," said Maung Kyaw Soe.

According to Maung Kyaw Soe, his parents are under a misconception that he is working in a garden belonging to a person. At first he thought that he was being detained for use as porter for a day “but they persuaded me to become a soldier. In two or three days, a sergeant persuaded me to become a soldier offering money but I refused," Maung Kyaw Soe added.

When he was traveling with IB 32 column, he was injured on his right arm during a gun battle between the KNU and the IB 32 column on August 23. He escaped when the column stayed in Lay Pho village beyond Mae Zali village. However, the other four boys travelled with the column. Even though the injury is not serious, he needs to take treatment for two weeks because of his five day long traumatic escape, said a Mon medic.

About 120 soldiers of IB 32 have been on duty for four months guarding the town. During the four months, one lieutenant and 30 of other ranks deserted the army. The South Eastern military command ordered Lt. Col. Khin Zaw, commander of IB 32, to find substitutes for the deserters.