Mon State Minister for Social Affairs U Tin Zaw Tun stated that effective action will be taken against individuals and organizations that profit from illegal practices, extort money, or carry out forced recruitment during the military service summons process instead of complying with the laws and rules under the People’s Military Service Law.
U Tin Zaw Tun made the remarks in response to a question raised by State Hluttaw Representative U Thant Zaw from the Kyaikmaraw Constituency 2 on the fifth day of the second regular session of the Third Mon State Hluttaw on 19 June, asking whether there were plans to effectively expose and take action against individuals exploiting the People’s Military Service Law for unlawful gain within the state and to reform implementation procedures in accordance with the rules under the law to build public trust and acceptance.
In response, U Tin Zaw Tun stated that if an investigation finds that civil servants or individuals assigned duties under an organized body have committed acts of dishonesty or negligence, action will be taken against them under Section 25 of the People’s Military Service Law. He added that if such acts are committed by individuals who are neither civil servants nor members of an assigned organization, effective action will be taken under both the People’s Military Service Law and other applicable laws.
Furthermore, the minister said that to build public trust and acceptance of the People’s Military Service Law, authorities have conducted 622 public awareness activities attended by 26,106 people since the law was enacted and distributed 44,994 pamphlets at 152 locations. He also urged Hluttaw representatives to cooperate in the awareness campaigns, noting that administrative bodies and relevant departments are working together to promote public understanding that military service is a national duty.
During the Hluttaw session, Hluttaw Representative U Thant Zaw said that public understanding of the rules governing exemptions and deferments under the People’s Military Service Law remains limited.
He added that, in practice, young people continue to experience anxiety because of the lack of clarity in the selection and recruitment process, the lack of transparency in the lottery system, and reports of individuals being stopped and rounded up on the streets and even at their homes in some areas.
He told the Hluttaw that the public is facing severe hardship, alleging that in some areas people are being forced to provide substitute recruits, pay money to obtain exemptions, and contribute between K10,000 and K30,000 per household each month within wards. He also said he had received reports that authorities or intermediaries were demanding payments ranging from tens of millions of kyats to secure the release of people detained on the roads, as well as reports that underage and medically unfit individuals had been detained and sold to fishing trawlers.
MNA/TH
#GlobalNewLightOfMyanmar