File Photo of a road in Yangon on 8 February 2021
Mizzima Editorial
In Myanmar’s major cities, young people – particularly men – fear a knock on the door. The junta’s forced conscription drive – announced 10 February – has undeniably ignited unprecedented panic among the youth. Over recent weeks, the military junta has increased guest registration inspections, tightened road checkpoints, and imposed constraints on domestic air travel, particularly in Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw.
The junta has been compiling lists of people who are potential candidates for conscription in several Yangon Region Townships. According to residents, the junta drew up the lists for the Yangon Region townships of Khayan, Hlaing Tharyar, Kyauktan, Thanlyin, South Dagon, and Dagon Seikkan during the second week in March, according to Mizzima news reports and NGO Progressive Voice.
Residents say junta soldiers and ward administrators have conducted door-to-door visits to gather information on the men listed as living in each household recently in areas of Yangon.
Skepticism has been voiced over junta claims that young men who are currently in education will be exempt from military service until they graduate from university, due to the junta’s dubious track record of adhering to laws.
The junta said that it would only start conscripting people after the Thingyan New Year’s celebrations in April. Despite this, there have been reports of junta soldiers already arbitrarily arresting and deporting young men from the street and during overnight guest list inspections across the country.
About 18 million people could be liable for military conscription, although the junta will only take in a fraction of this number in the first year’s intake.
Tens of thousands are trying to flee by applying for visas at overwhelmed embassies or by embarking on dangerous journeys to other countries. In Rakhine State, this catastrophe is particularly grave. On 19 February, the junta detained around 600 passengers arriving from Yangon at Sittwe and Kyaukphyu Airports. The next day, the junta detained 100 ethnic Rakhine youth traveling by bus from Yangon to Rakhine State, holding them incommunicado in Yangon’s Hlaing Tharyar Township.
In addition, the Chief Minister of Rakhine State Htain Lin is leading a militia conscription team with the call that the township conscription team must summon and register all adult nationals who will serve in the military. Simultaneously, the junta has arrested and forcibly recruited hundreds of Rohingya in internment camps and those remaining in Sittwe, as well as threatened and persuaded them to enlist with the potential of freedom of movement, money, rice, or national ID cards.
The Rohingya are thus being targeted by the perpetrators of genocide against them for conscription as human shields, human minesweepers, and porters, among other forced labour. The very Myanmar military conscripting the Rohingya has long deprived them of their citizenship, access to IDs and passports, and other fundamental human rights.
Over the coming months, many individuals fleeing forced conscription will enter Myanmar’s neighbouring countries, which are ill-equipped to provide shelter and sufficient aid, have notoriously pushed individuals back, and have failed to provide them protection.
Progressive Voice warns that with neighbouring countries ’authorities on high alert, Myanmar people fleeing from the military’s violence will likely encounter violent pushbacks and arbitrary detention in violation of international law. This will have resounding impacts on regional peace and stability at the expense of Myanmar people’s safety and security.
