Over 100 Chin men forced to enlist in Ann Twsp

By Admin 26 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
26 April 2024, Ann

Myanmar’s military regime has been pressuring more than 100 ethnic Chin people from about 10 villages in Arakan State’s Ann Township into joining the Myanmar military.

Junta soldiers came to Chin villages along the Minbu-Ann road, telling residents to enlist under the conscription law activated in February. The regime is also applying pressure through village administrators.

“[Junta soldiers] have come twice to tell us to serve in the military. As many have already fled the fighting in the area, they told us that people who are left in the village must join up,” said an Ann resident.

Many locals have fled the fighting between the regime and the Arakkha Army (AA) in Ann Township.

“I heard they have sent call-up letters, but no one has yet reported to them [to get drafted],” said a female resident of Ann Township.

Severely depleted by casualties in daily clashes with anti-regime forces, the military junta activated the national conscription law on February 10.

“I have seen reports about the regime forcibly conscripting people in areas it controls. Locals can’t defy the guns. And they have nowhere to run,” said a young Chin man.

The regime is also forcibly recruiting residents in Arakan State townships it still controls, prompting many young people to flee to avoid conscription.