Porter services proliferating in Yangon amid fears of abduction and trafficking

Frequent abductions in Yangon, fears of being seized and sold

September 4

Two men walking near Hotel 57 on 57th Street in Botahtaung Township, Yangon Region, were suddenly seized by four plainclothes individuals who arrived in a white civilian vehicle, according to local sources.

The two men were abducted at around 6 p.m. yesterday, September 3, and the vehicle that took them away was seen driving off toward Maha Bandula Road, sources said.

One of the abducted men is around 20 years old and the other around 25, and witnesses say that when they cried out for help from bystanders during the abduction, they were beaten and forced into the vehicle.

In addition, at around 7:45 p.m. on September 2, two middle-aged men walking near the supermarket beside Royal Plaza on Factory Road in Mingala Taungnyunt Township were taken by three plainclothes men who got out of a closed DV Van-type vehicle that pulled up, according to reports.

With the 28th round of conscription about to begin, forced abductions are occurring frequently in many townships across Yangon, and in some townships people are being illegally detained and sold back into military service, fueling rising fear and alarm among Yangon residents, sources said.