Interim Govt Army Uses Charity Ambulances to Abduct Youths for Conscription and Extort Money in Kamayut

In Kamayut Township, Yangon Region, the interim government army is using ambulances under the guise of charity organizations to abduct young men for conscription, making it difficult for the public to notice, according to local residents and sources close to the matter. Within the past few days, two young men sitting on the platform at Lethodan train station in Kamayut Township were arrested by an informant named Zaw Htet Naung (alias Naung Naung) and a police officer on suspicion after their phones were inspected, it was learned. After their arrest, they were forcibly loaded onto a hospital ambulance belonging to the "Ratana Aung" charity organization, which was waiting, and taken away, according to eyewitnesses. Two white and black hospital ambulances from the Ratana Aung charity organization have been seen patrolling the township in the late afternoon and evening, carrying out abductions for conscription, with at least 3 to 4 such arrests occurring in recent days. A local resident told the Irrawaddy Times, "Those two cars are usually parked inside the new municipal office. They come out and start abducting people when they are about to make an arrest. Since they are charity cars, people don't pay much attention. They even say among themselves that it's easier to arrest people." Furthermore, around 6:30 PM on July 2nd, near the bus stop on Central Road (Khaishwewar Road), a young man returning from work was allegedly forced by an informant and police officers to have his money taken from his wallet under the pretext of inspecting his phone, according to local residents. Informant Zaw Htet Naung (alias Naung Naung) has been continuously carrying out abductions for conscription and extortion, and is currently operating under the guise of a police officer. He is reportedly collaborating with the township police chief, station chief, and area supervisor Lha Myo to abduct young men and hand them over to higher authorities, according to sources close to the police force. According to sources close to the military, the interim government army is experiencing a shortage of manpower for conscription quotas, and when the required numbers are not met, they are increasingly resorting to methods such as street abductions. In addition, it is reported that systematic extortion is being carried out by contacting the families of apprehended youths and demanding tens of millions of kyats in exchange for their release, depending on the conscription needs. Currently, the interim government army has not only increased street abductions more than before but is also immediately arresting and taking away individuals if they have not reported their household registration in their wards. Therefore, local monitoring groups are urging young people moving around Yangon city to be especially cautious and avoid not only the interim government army's checkpoints but also suspicious parked or slowly moving charity vehicles and taxis on the roads. Photo: Submitted Caption: Lethodan Station and the motorcycle used by informants