Regime signals more conscription of Muslim IDPs from Sittwe displacement camps

By Admin 30 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom
30 September 2024, Sittwe

Myanmar’s military regime is once again conscripting internally displaced people (IDPs) from Muslim displacement camps in Arakan State’s Sittwe Township, Muslim IDPs told DMG.

Junta soldiers arrived at the Thelchaung, Bar Sar, Dar Paing, Bawdupha, Ohn Taw Gyi and Ohn Taw Chay displacement camps and Bumay Village in Sittwe Township on September 20 and 25 and informed Muslim IDPs about the plan to enlist them as conscripts in October.

It is not known how many people will be conscripted in the latest drive to recruit more personnel, but junta soldiers have warned of action against those who oppose it, Muslim IDPs said.

“I don’t know how many people will be called up for military service. Junta soldiers told Muslim men to be ready for military service and warned Muslim men not to evade conscription,” said an IDP woman from the Thetkelpyin displacement camp.

Muslim IDPs have been informed of the draft in various ways, including personally and over the phone.

The military regime, which has been losing territory and soldiers on the Arakan front for months, has increasingly resorted to conscription to bolster its forces in the ongoing battle with the Arakkha Army (AA) for control of Myanmar’s westernmost state.

“We don’t want to attend the military training,” said a Muslim man from the Dar Paing displacement camp. “If we evade conscription, our family members will be arrested. We can’t deny the junta’s forced conscription and have nowhere to flee. Muslims are being used by the regime.”

The regime also forcibly recruited hundreds of Muslims from January through June. The conscripts underwent 14 days of military training at the regional operations command in Sittwe.

Most of these Muslims have not been contacted to this day, say family members, who are concerned about their well-being.

“We have not been able to contact a Muslim conscript since he was taken in February. I don’t know where he is or what he is doing. Some were assigned to provide security in villages,” said a Muslim woman.

DMG attempted to phone Arakan State military council spokesman U Hla Thein regarding the matter, but he could not be reached.

With fighting between the military and AA continuing in Sittwe Township and military tensions between the two sides running high on the ground, the regime has prepared a defence in the Arakan State capital in an effort to stymie the ethnic armed group’s advance.