Forced military conscription costs (r)

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Subject: Forced military conscription costs lives in Burma

Forced military conscription costs lives in Burma

Maung Wet Gyi (a) Zaw Moe Naing (age 15 year) is the son of  U Po Kho 
and Daw Aye Yee of  Bogalay Township, Pyapon District. U po Kho serves 
as a night watchman at the Teachers Training College (TTC). 

On the 20 September 1998 Maung Wet Gyi was bound with ropes and taken on 
the Bassein launch from the ferry wharf by the Bassein military 
recruiting team. As he had not returned home  that night his parents 
made a search and discovered that the above had taken place.

The following day when his father went to the military office in Bassein 
and pleaded for the release of his son he was asked to pay 6000 kyats. 
Though the father passionately explained that he only had 4000 kyats 
they were not satisfied so he had to return to Bogalay.

With great difficulty they were able to scrape together the six thousand  
kyats and U Pho Kho made another trip to Bassein on the 26 September.

Two days later , on the 28th at about 12 mid day, one person ( from the 
Bassein military recruiting centre) known as Kyaw Naing from the medical 
corps went to the home of U Po Kho and Daw Aye Yee in the compound of 
the Teachers Training College and demanded four thousand kyats for the 
release of their son Wet Kyi (a) Zaw Moe Naing.

Daw Aye Yee explained to him her husband had gone again to Bassein in 
connection with this matter and she was in no position to do anything. 
Kyaw Naing said that only he was in a position to set their son free and 
there was no point in them chasing around.. He would return within the 
hour and expected to receive the four thousand kyats.

Within minutes of his departure Daw Aye Yee was so overtaken with 
anxiety she collapsed and died.

Her husband was informed by telegram of her death and was able to reach 
Bogalay on the 1st October. Daw Aye Yee was buried on the 2nd of October 
1998. 

(Everybody from the TTC and many people in Bogalay can vouch for this 
event.)


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