On the night of February 10, the junta abducted more than 30 young men in Thaton Township, Mon State, for conscription.

That night, junta-appointed officials carried out large-scale abductions of young people in Bagosu Ward, Thuwannawady Town, and Naungbo Village, both in Thaton Township.

The abducted individuals, men aged 20 to 35, were sent to Basic Military Training Depot 9 (BSTD 9) in Thaton Town for military training.

“Some young men of conscription age were forcibly taken from their homes,” said a Thaton Township resident.

Family members went to BSTD 9 to seek the release of the abducted men but were denied access and told the men were not there, forcing them to return.

Warnings have been issued advising young people to avoid going out at night, as conscription-related abductions by the junta are rampant in Thaton Township.

The junta plans to begin military training for the 22nd conscription batch soon and has pressured local police and administrative officials in Mon State to step up abductions to meet recruitment quotas.