Pathein Ward Administrative Body Deceives Illiterate Man into Signing, Detains Him for Conscription

In Pathein, a Ward Administrative Team Deceived an Illiterate Man into Signing Documents and Forcibly Took Him for Military Conscription

September 4

In Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region, a ward administrative team allegedly tricked an illiterate man into coming to their office briefly, made him sign a military conscription notice, and then sent him into the army, according to a statement from the Special Task Force-Pathein.

The incident occurred on August 30, when Ward No. 14 Administrator Myat Thway and ward heads Wanna, Myint Swe, Tun Shwe, and Tet Pu summoned Ko Thu Ra (son of U Khin Win), who lives on 9th Street in the ward, to come to the office for a short while.

Because Ko Thu Ra is illiterate, his wife had forbidden him from signing any documents, but the ward administrative team allegedly lied to him, saying that if he signed the paper, he would no longer be required to serve in the military, and made him sign.

After he signed, Ko Thu Ra was immediately taken to the Pathein Township General Administration Department office and from there sent to Battalion No. 505, it is reported.

Ko Thu Ra had been paying a monthly military exemption fee of 100,000 kyats to avoid conscription, but was still taken for military service, according to reports.