Young Men in Hpa-An Face Forced Conscription by Myanmar Junta
· World · BBC News
Young men in Hpa-An, the capital of Myanmar's Karen state, are increasingly targeted for forced military recruitment by the ruling junta. Plain-clothed junta supporters have been roaming the city to arbitrarily arrest individuals in their teens, 20s, and 30s to bolster military ranks. This crackdown follows a mandatory conscription law enacted after the military suffered significant losses in the ongoing civil war. Many residents now live in fear, with families instructing young men to remain indoors after dark to avoid being abducted. An estimated 100,000 recruits have been forced into service across the country through coercion and extortion over the past two-and-a-half years.
Why it matters
The forced conscription campaign directly threatens the safety of Myanmar's youth and intensifies the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing civil war. It signals the junta's desperate attempt to maintain control despite declining morale and significant territorial losses.
Read the original report — BBC News
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