- Web Master
- September 07, 2024
Several youths from Kyauk Ta Lone Muslim IDP camp in
Kyaukphyu township of Rakhine State have sought refuge with the Arakan Army
(AA) due to the military junta's enforcement of compulsory military services.
Among those who sought refuge in the AA, there was one
young woman along with over 10 young people, said a reliable source.
"The reason they fled the camp is because the
military junta pressured 150 people from the camp to join military services.
Now, some of the youths have sought refuge with the AA," added the source.
An internally displaced person (IDP), who wished to
remain anonymous, revealed that the family members of those young people (who
fled the camp) are no longer permitted to stay in the camp. They were driven
away by the camp officials.
"People are terrified of joining the military
service. They're lying low because they have nowhere to escape. Both the
children and adults are distraught, unable to eat and drink. Around 15 or 16
young people have fled the camp, and the rest of their families have been
forcibly driven out. We're at a loss, do not know what to do," stated the
source.
On 17 February, members of Kyauk Ta Lone IDP camp
management committee collected a list of male IDPs (aged 18 to 55 years) and
informed them that they would be joining military services.
The military service law applies only to individuals
between 18 and 35 years of age. However, in the IDP camp, individuals aged 18
to 55 years were also short listed.
The camp functionaries revealed that they have
been pressured by the junta to send 150 young people to join military services
within a week. Later the deadline was extended by three days in regards to the
Muslim prayer day.
The military officials have promised those people
national citizenship after completing their term and threatened to arrest them
all if they refuse to admit.
"I'm not sure if he's a tactical operation
commander or a captain. He told us that as an ethnic group, we're obligated to
serve the country. So we asked them, why weren't granted citizenship? He
replied that it would be done after the military training programs. He even
disclosed that the junta trusts us more than the Rakhine people," said a
Muslim refugee.
Narinjara News tried to contact Kyauk Ta Lone IDP camp
administrator U Maw Ni and Maung Ni by telephone, but failed.
The concerned camp gives shelter to 300
households (comprising over 1,000 individuals), who were displaced from urban
wards like Ah Yar Shi, Paik Seik, Tan Ban Chaung and Toe Chae of
Kyaukphyu township after the conflict erupted in 2012. (Photo: UN)