As the military junta continues arresting Muslim
youths in Maungdaw township of Rakhine State for the purpose of conscription,
many youths have fled to escape the soldiers. Most of them now avoid sleeping
in their residences during the night hours, said the Muslim residents.
"On the night of 12 April, three military
vehicles arrived at Ka Nyin Tan village and arrested some Muslim youths in
presence of administrative officials. While many youths managed to escape, 12
were arrested. Later they were however released. The soldiers want more youths
to engage in military services,” said a Muslim resident.
Since early days of April, the military and border
guard personnel have been conducting night raids in the Muslim wards and
villages under Maungdaw locality including Myoma Ka Nyin Tan ward, Maung Ni
village and Shwe Zar village-tract. However, the local Muslims revealed that
the raids remained unsuccessful as the young people had managed to flee.
"Muslim youths in Maungdaw are not interested
in joining the military services and currently they avoid staying at
their residences,” added the resident.
On many occasions, the junta has issued summons to the
Muslims through the administrative officers. Now the youths are hiding in
tents, fields, shrimp ponds etc to escape the arrest.
Many Muslim youths in Buthidaung township of Maungdaw
district were arrested by the junta forces for conscription. They are now
motivated to stand against the Arakha Army fighters and even to set Rakhine
families’ residences on fire with an aim to create ethnic and religious
conflicts.