Arakan residents in Yangon fear conscription

By Admin 11 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
11 December 2024, Mrauk-U

Arakan residents in Yangon have expressed concerns for their safety as the regime is stepping up enforcement of the conscription law in parts of the commercial capital.

In South Okkalapa, Hlaing Thayar, Dagon Seikkan, Botahtaung, and Thaketa townships, ward administrators have received notice from the regime reminding them that men aged between 18 and 35 must serve in the military.

“I heard they issued a notice yesterday as a reminder regarding conscription. Every man aged between 18 and 35 is required to serve in the military,” said a resident of Hlaing Tharyar Township.

The regime stated that those listed for conscription must serve without exemption, and that substitutes are no longer allowed. Failure to comply will result in legal action under the conscription law, it warned. Previously, potential conscripts could pay others to serve in the Myanmar military on their behalf.

Meanwhile, administrators are collecting 60,000 to 200,000 kyats per household allegedly to provide monthly allowances for conscripts.

A displaced Arakan resident in Hlaing Thayar said: “As the law applies to every eligible body in the city, displaced people are concerned. Some are trying to return to Arakan State, while others are preparing to leave for foreign countries.”

Due to clashes between the regime and the Arakkha Army (AA) in Arakan State, residents have fled to other places in state or out of state, including Yangon.

Since the activation of the conscription law, the regime has increased inspection of households for unregistered overnight guests as well as checks on roads.

“As some eligible men on the conscription list have fled, the regime has increased checks at night. Concerns have risen more than before,” said another Arakan resident.

The regime is arresting and prosecuting displaced Arakan residents in Yangon on various pretexts, often handing down lengthy prison sentences.

Former youth leader Ko Khin Win Maung of the Arakan National Party (ANP), who was taking shelter in Yangon, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on November 29 under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.

Many Arakan residents in Yangon and other parts of the country are increasingly leaving for foreign countries due to security concerns and job scarcity in Myanmar, according to labour rights activists.