Forced Conscription in myanmar: A Growing Crisis
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The ongoing conflict in Myanmar continues to escalate, with the military junta intensifying its forced conscription efforts, raising serious human rights concerns. Reports from the ground paint a grim picture of widespread abuses, impacting young men and women across the country.
In February 2024,the junta implemented a compulsory conscription law,forcing men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 into military service for up to two years. [[1]] While the junta claims these efforts are voluntary and necessary for national security, [[2]] eyewitness accounts tell a different story.
A local witness described the brutal reality: “The administrator of Ward No.9 in Hpa-An is currently leading the forced recruitment of young people for conscription. He is notorious for his cruel actions, having previously overseen conscription, the arrest of civilians for forced labor, and other abuses.Those recruited were sent to LIB 201. The target is to send 200 conscripts to the battalion, and at least 10 have already been taken. The junta authorities will continue to forcibly take young people until the target is met. Administrators in other wards are also carrying out similar recruitment drives.”
The situation is further complex by reports of arbitrary arrests and forced conscription at checkpoints.Young people traveling between regions,especially those heading towards Karen state,are being targeted. This is happening at key crossings like the Thanlwin (Salween) River Bridge connecting Yangon and Hpa-an,and the zarthapyin Bridge over the Gyaing River,linking Mawlamyine and Hpa-An.
The financial burden is also immense. In one instance, two employees of a building materials store in Hpa-An were arrested while working and taken to LIB 201. A resident of Hpa-An City recounted: “On 15 or 16 December, two young workers from a building materials store were arrested while transporting supplies by car and were forcibly dragged to LIB 201. They were only released after paying 10 million MMK each. There were even disputes between the group that arrested them and the one that released them,as the conscription quota had not yet been met.”
The implications of this forced conscription extend beyond the immediate suffering of those conscripted. It fuels the ongoing conflict, destabilizes the region, and creates a climate of fear and oppression. The international community must continue to pressure the Myanmar junta to end these human rights abuses and allow for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
General Guan Maw, a leader of the Kachin Independence Institution, offered a stark assessment of the situation, stating that the conscription law, enacted on February 10, 2024, “can be said to mark the end of the end,” echoing the sentiment that the 2021 military coup was a turning point. [[3]]
Forced Conscription in Myanmar: A Dire Situation Worsens
The ongoing conflict in Myanmar continues to escalate, with the military junta intensifying its forced conscription efforts, raising serious human rights concerns. Reports from the ground paint a grim picture of widespread abuses,impacting young men and women across the country.
Interview with Dr. Aung Kyaw Moe
World Today News Senior Editor: Dr. Aung Kyaw Moe, thank you for joining us today. You’ve been closely monitoring the situation in Myanmar. Can you tell our readers more about the current conscription drive and its impact on civilians?
dr. Aung Kyaw Moe: Certainly. sence the 2021 coup, the military junta has been steadily tightening its grip on power. The recent implementation of the compulsory conscription law in February 2024 has dramatically escalated the situation. They claim it’s voluntary, but eyewitness accounts and testimonies reveal a starkly different reality. Young people are being rounded up, often violently, at checkpoints, in their homes, and even at work, without any due process.
World today News Senior Editor: Your organization has documented numerous cases of these forced recruitments. Can you share some specific examples with our readers?
Dr.Aung Kyaw Moe: Absolutely. We have harrowing reports from Hpa-An, where administrators are leading these brutal recruitment drives. One witness described the local administrator’s ruthless tactics. He has a history of overseeing forced labor and other abuses, and now he’s targeting young people for the military.
Another alarming trend is the targeting of young people traveling between regions, especially those headed towards Karen state. This suggests a potential strategy to bolster troop numbers in conflict zones.
World Today News Senior Editor: Aside from the obvious human cost of losing young people to forced service, what are the wider implications of this conscription drive?
Dr. aung Kyaw Moe: The ramifications are profound. It deepens the cycle of violence and fuels the ongoing conflict. It creates a climate of fear and oppression, suppressing dissent and driving people underground. Furthermore, as economic hardship grips the country, this conscription law further burdens families, who are often forced to pay exorbitant sums to secure the release of their loved ones.
World Today News Senior Editor: So, what needs to happen to address this crisis?
Dr. Aung Kyaw Moe: The international community must increase pressure on the junta to end these horrific human rights violations. Targeted sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and condemnation from world leaders are essential.
We also need to support humanitarian organizations working on the ground to provide aid and protection to those affected by these abuses. Ultimately,a lasting solution requires a return to democratic rule and respect for human rights in Myanmar.
World Today News Senior Editor: Dr. Aung Kyaw Moe,thank you for shedding light on this critical issue. We hope your insights will encourage our readers to learn more and demand action to protect the people of Myanmar.
