Thanlyin Officials Allegedly Selling Deported Rakhine Nationals Into Military Service for 4 Million Kyats Each

Narinjara, November 4, 2026

Reports have emerged alleging that the Thanlyin Township Administrator and his team in Yangon Division are selling Rakhine nationals, who were recently deported from Malaysia and are being held at a local religious hall, into military service for 4 million Kyats (40 lakh Kyats) per person.

Citing local residents, Thanlyin Media reported that the scheme is being orchestrated by U Arkar Kyaw, the Deputy Township Administrator of the General Administration Department, in collusion with Kyaw Zin Latt, the administrator of Ahmuhtan ward.

Out of 1,476 Myanmar nationals recently deported from Malaysia, 429 are from Rakhine State. Of these individuals, 217 were detained at the Thathanar Beikman (Religious Hall) in Thanlyin Township, while 212 were held at the Hlaing Tharyar (West) Township Hall in Yangon.

The individuals allegedly being sold into military service are among those held at the Thanlyin Township facility.

"Some Rakhine individuals temporarily held at the Sasana Vimana (Thathanar Beikman) in Thanlyin were forcibly taken away and sold for military conscription," a local source reported. "This was carried out by Kyaw Zin Latt, a ward administrator who also serves as the chairman of the Thanlyin Township YMBA, under the pretext that the conscripts would be paid approximately 4 million Kyats."

Although the military junta announced that the detainees held at the Hlaing Tharyar (West) Township Hall were released on October 28, reports indicate that only those whose families could provide a formal guarantee were actually set free. The remaining individuals remain in detention.

Sources state that this partial release was a token gesture following statements from Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who announced he would seek an explanation from Myanmar regarding reports that approximately 300 Myanmar deportees were being held in Yangon military detention centers.

While deportees from other ethnic groups have reportedly been sent back to their respective home regions, the Rakhine individuals have now been held in detention for over a month.

The 1,476 Myanmar nationals initially arrived back in Yangon on October 4, transported by three naval vessels belonging to the military junta.