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Forced military conscription costs
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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