Military Regime in Myanmar Imposes Draft Law
Yanking Young Adults into Myanmar's Military Service
In the midst of Myanmar's turbulent present, the military government swings its mighty stick, mandating military service for young adults of both genders.
Since the military snatched power from the civilian regime in early 2021, the country has been reeling from a string of bloody skirmishes, with the army taking hit after hit against ethnic militias and anti-coup forces.
The latest dictate, dropped unceremoniously on Saturday, heralds that all men aged between 18 and 35 and women aged between 18 and 27 are expected to don the military uniform and submit to two years of command under the military's orders.
Further details on the implementation of this diktat are as scarce as unicorn sightings, with the puppet regime opting to provide a vague promise that the defense ministry will eventually issue guidelines.
The military's consecutive defeats have left an impression not unlike a tattered battle-weary flag. Towards the end of last year, a trio of ethnic insurgent groups in Shan State, joined by other seditious factions, managed to seize control over vital border crossings and lucrative trade routes with China.
Although a conscription law was enacted way back in 2010, it had been gathering dust until now. The law stipulates that military service can stretch up to five years during a state of emergency, with failure to comply leading to imprisonment for the same term.
The military declared a state of emergency in 2021, which it later extended for a further six months.
Myanmar's history reads like a dark tragic novel, marred by nearly five decades of oppressive military rule. However, a transition towards democracy started in 2011. This fairytale interlude came crashing down on February 1, 2021, when the military, ever the villain, regained control.
Since then, the country has been wracked by violence and unrest, displacing over a million people and claiming thousands of lives.
Critics voice doubts and disapproval even among the military's supporters, questioning its performance in recent clashes with ethnic armed groups, characterized by losses and retreats.
Insights:
- The new conscription law requires service for up to two years from all men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27, with specialists like doctors serving for up to three years.
- Service can extend up to five years during a state of emergency. Refusal to serve can lead to imprisonment for the same duration.
- In Rakhine State, the Arakan Army enforces conscription for all residents over 18. Men (18-45) must train for two months and serve two years, while women (18-35) also have to serve.
- The mandatory service may exacerbate tensions with rebel forces, lead to further human rights abuses, especially if it involves forced recruitment of underage youths, and potentially mobilize more opposition, deepening the political crisis.
In the aftermath of Myanmar's political upheaval, the renewed conscription law, effective immediately, requires all young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 for men and 18 to 27 for women to serve two years in the military, as part of the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the country, a move that raises concerns in the realm of general-news.
The strained relationship between the military and ethnic armed groups has led to a series of bloody skirmishes, with the military's repeated losses and retreats sparking questions regarding its competence, making this move in the realm of politics particularly noteworthy.
