More than 100 young Muslimsfrom Buthidaung township in Rakhine State were abducted by the junta forces toenroll them in the military conscription.
They include 13 from Pa ZunChaung village, 55 from Tat Ma Chaung village, 33 from Nga Kyaing Tauk village,and around 10 from Kyauk Phyu Taung village.
The junta forces entered thevillages and abducted them on 19 and 20 February, said the villagers.
"They came into thevillages and detained them. Most of them are young and they weretaken to the 535th and 353rd battalions. The soldiers threatened more arrests, which caused concern among the villagers," said a Muslimvillage elder.
Speaking to Narinjara Newson the condition of anonymity, he added that due to the junta’s announcement of more arrests in Muslim villages, many young residents are nowfleeing.
Many young residentsexpressed their willingness to join the Arakan Army rather than going with thejunta forces.
Abducting young peopleagainst their will and forcing them to join the military services is nothingbut the violation of human rights and the junta must be held responsible forits consequences, he asserted.
On 9 February, at number 5border guard police battalion in Myo Thu Gyi Village under Maungdawtownship, division commander Thurein Tun and district administrator Nay Oo helda meeting with Mawlawi (Muslim religious scholars) from Maungdaw locality. Theypersuaded the Muslim villagers to cooperate with the junta forces.
As the response was notsatisfactory, the junta soldiers abducted those young Muslims to compel them tojoin the military service, said a local resident.
The junta also obtained alist of internally displaced men (who are aged 18 to 55) from Kyauk Ta LoneMuslim IDP camp in Kyaukphyu and enrolled 150 individuals into militaryservice.