Mizzima-Jan 20
Myanmar junta officials and village administrators in Meiktila and Tharzi townships of Mandalay Region are reportedly intensifying efforts to recruit not only youth but also elderly men for military service, according to local sources.
The situation has worsened since December, with residents reporting increased pressure from junta officials. A local person from Ma Kyee Kan village in Meiktila township said, “A young man summoned for conscription fled his village to avoid military service. Since then, officials have been targeting villages for recruits. Despite collecting payments to meet recruitment quotas, they couldn’t secure new conscripts. Village administrators Zaw Lin and Kyaw San have threatened to make arrests and conscript men aged 50-60 in the coming days.” In Tharzi township, bordering Meiktila, 14 young men have been chosen for conscription through a lottery system in villages such as Buu Yong, Ku Phyu, Thaman Kan, Chauk Khwe, and Ma Kyee Kan since March 2024. These villages collectively house over 600 households. However, many selected men fled to evade conscription, prompting junta members to conduct forcible arrests, leading to mass displacement among villagers. Residents also claimed that entire families of individuals selected for conscription are forced to evacuate to other townships. In many villages across Tharzi township, administrators are reportedly collecting monthly cash and summoning individuals for conscription. According to Ye Baw Bo Gyi, a member of the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Tharzi township, the situation has become dire. “The villagers are terrified of being forcibly recruited. Many men have taken refuge in forests. Previously, paying money could exempt you from conscription, but now, even after paying, you might still be forced to serve. When people flee to us, we offer them assistance,” he said. The military junta has been enforcing the mandatory conscription law since February 2024, deploying new recruits to frontline areas after training. Reports indicate numerous casualties and desertions among these conscripts. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2025/01/20/18416#google_vignette
