Two officials, the Chief of Shwebo Township Police Force and a Township Administrative Officer, have been arrested for demanding 13 million kyats in connection with a youth who was not listed on the household registration and was accused of evading military conscription.
According to the military conscription law, relevant township-level committees oversee the process in compliance with established legal procedures. Public awareness of conscription requirements, as outlined in the 2010 law, is being promoted through media outlets. Only men aged 18 to 35 are eligible for conscription under this law.
Despite these regulations, on January 26, authorities received a report about monetary extortion linked to conscription in Shwebo Township.
The investigation revealed that on January 24 at around 7 PM, a team led by Shwebo Township Administrator U Kyaw Naing and Township Police Chief Than Zaw conducted a household registration inspection in Ward 4, Shwebo Township. During the inspection, they identified a 24-year-old man, Maung Kyaw Min Khant, from Kyauk Myit Village, who was not registered. They brought him to the Township Administration Office, claiming he would be registered for conscription.
Subsequently, an official from the District Administration Office, Junior Clerk Thurein Nyunt, contacted Maung Kyaw Min Khant’s family, demanding 13 million kyats to replace him with another individual for conscription. On January 25, at around 3 PM, Maung Kyaw Min Khant’s father, U Ko Ko Lay, paid the amount.
Further investigations revealed that the 13 million kyats was distributed among the involved officials: Police Chief Than Zaw received 250,000 kyats, Senior Clerk Kyaw Khine Lat from the Township Administration Office received 250,000 kyats, Junior Clerk Thurein Nyunt from the District Administration Office received 300,000 kyats, and Than Soe Htay from Ward No.10, who was to replace Maung Kyaw Min Khant, received 500,000 kyats.
The authorities have stated that the individuals involved in the misuse of the military conscription law for monetary gain will face strict legal action. Additionally, the extorted 13million kyats was returned to Maung Kyaw Min Khant’s family on January 26 at 9:30 PM.
The military conscription law was enacted in November 2010 to uphold national unity and sovereignty, and conscription training began in February 2024 in regions across the country. Authorities have reiterated that conscription procedures will strictly adhere to legal requirements, with no room for monetary demands or replacements.
The State Administration Council has called for public cooperation in reporting any irregularities related to conscription and has encouraged officials to continue raising awareness to prevent such incidents in the future.
