Regime steps up conscription drive in Manaung

By Admin 01 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
1 April 2024, Manaung

The regime is putting pressure on ward administrators in Manaung Township, Arakan State, to conscript more young men for the Myanmar military.

Around the end of February, village administrators in Manaung received instructions from the regime to conscript two people from each village. More recently, the regime has told them to conscript 50 people in villages with more than 150 households, and 100 people in villages of more than 200 households.

“It is difficult for us even to conscript two men in our village. We will not be able to meet their demand,” said a village administrator who asked for anonymity.

Some young people have fled their villages to avoid conscription in Manaung Township. Administrators say they are caught between the regime and local residents.

“The regime will not allow us to resign, and it may arrest and torture us if we submit resignations. But if we do as we are told by the regime, people will have a negative view of us, and may even threaten our safety. So, we are in a tight corner,” said another village administrator who asked for anonymity.

A 100-household administrator involved in collecting the personal details of draft-age people in Thandwe Township was killed on March 21. He had his throat slit.

Some administrators in Thandwe, Taungup, Manaung and Gwa townships in southern Arakan State have resigned over the junta pressure to register draft-age people.

The regime has said potential draftees in Manaung Township would not have to go to the front line after completing basic military training, and rather can serve in their own villages.

One Manaung resident said: “Some residents might be swayed by the junta claim and think that they can serve in their native towns. But once they are enlisted, they would be sent to anywhere necessary. And they will not be able to reject it,” said a Manaung resident.

Though there is still no fighting between the regime and the AA in Manaung Township, locals are facing serious shortages of food and medicines due to the junta’s ongoing travel restrictions.

The regime has detained stateless Muslims in Arakan State and is sending them to the front line.