Photo:Crd
Mizzima
The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) pointed out that the Myanmar Conscription Law is leading to increases in the number of children having to work, instead of going to school.
The first week of conscription will begin after the Thingyan New Year’s water festival held in mid-April. It will involve the forced enlistment of 5,000 people per month across the country. The junta also announced that 60,000 men would be called for military service each year.
According to HURFOM, the impacts of the unjust law are being felt already. Due to the conscription law, youths are leaving for Thailand and escaping to rebel-held areas. This is creating a labour shortage that is, unfortunately, being filled by children.
HURFOM has reported a worrying rise in the number of underage children in Mon State who are working to support their families.
It says that more underage children are working at restaurants, tea shops, bars, bike repair shops, grocery stores, and some other shops.
In Mawlamyine, in Mon State there are more and more violations of child labour laws. Children between the ages of 12 and 16 have been found working for exploitative wages.
Meanwhile, conscription has already begun in the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) target areas of Mon and Karen states and Tanintharyi Region.
Every village in Mon State has to supply 3 to 10 conscripts from each ward. The exact number they have to send depends on the Ward’s population.
The junta directed the administrators of wards, towns, and townships to send in lists of those they have conscripted by the last week of March.
The ward and village administrators in Thanbyuzayat and Mudon townships in Mon State have, unfortunately, done their work early and already compiled lists of candidates for conscription to the junta.
“Two men are collecting lists in the neighbourhoods. They inquire about the name of the head of the family, the number of families, gender, and age,” said a villager.
In Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State, administrators were instructed to submit their list of candidates for subscription by 20 March.
Some villages in Chaungzon Township, Mon State have sent notices to men aged 18 to 35 summoning them to meetings about conscription.
“There are no longer any Mon youths in villages. Parents are very concerned. The issue of conscription is quite controversial. In some townships, there are censuses from the administrators”, said a resident of Mon State.
In a worrying response, Thailand’s Tak province, which borders Burma, has responded with increased security to stop the influx of people trying to cross, according to HURFOM.
It says that Thailand and other countries must show compassion towards those seeking refuge. With an active war prolonged by the junta and no education or livelihood opportunities, the enactment of the Conscription Law is only the latest deterrent in the quest to leave the country.
The New Mon State Party (anti-military dictatorship) has issued an order not to comply with the junta’s conscription demands. It announced that it would take decisive action against district administrations carrying out the junta’s orders.
Pro-democracy bodies, including the National Consultative Council, the National Unity Government, and the Revolutionary Army, have each announced that they will do the same. Still, the junta is seeking to forcibly recruit.
A list curated by Data for Myanmar found that the junta has gathered data, conducted conscription lotteries, and registered eligible men for military service in 172 townships. In HURFOM target areas, fourteen are in Bago, seven are in the Tanintharyi region, six are in Mon State, and two are in Karen State.
While many plan to leave Burma, the junta has increased its security along popular roads and established checkpoints throughout the country to prevent people from doing so.
There are also new requirements for people to be allowed to travel. A national identity card must be supplied and a travel history must be filled out when buying a ticket to travel in Mon State.
Tickets are only sold to those who can show a recommendation letter from the police. This news follows an increase in the number of checkpoints as people flee conscription. There has also been a worrying rise in cases of people being arbitrarily arrested and then forcibly disappeared.
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