The military junta, led by coup-era military officers, continues to ignore the forced recruitment of civilians for military service, despite the growing impact on people’s daily lives. This sentiment is now being expressed by the junta’s own parliamentary representatives.
Since the military service law signed by former military leader Min Aung Hlaing came into effect during the coup period, recruitment practices have reportedly shifted from legal summons to what many describe as abduction-like methods. Critics say the junta has deliberately overlooked such incidents in an effort to strengthen military manpower.
“We want this issue to be discussed in parliament, but we still do not have the opportunity. They announce complaint channels and hotline numbers, but when people actually contact them, nothing is done. Since they want to transform into a civilian-style government, we want them to pay attention to the people and act with dignity. Some civilians come to us seeking help, but we have no authority to do anything,” a lawmaker from a major political party based in Yangon said.
Lawmakers believe cases of missing persons are increasing daily in Yangon, Mandalay, and Naypyitaw, where senior military officials reside, with many reportedly being forcibly recruited into military service. According to sources close to township administration groups, military recruitment has increasingly turned into a human trafficking-style market.
Residents suspect that groups not officially affiliated with the military or police are targeting men in migrant-populated areas such as Hlaing Tharyar and Shwepyithar and selling them to the military.
“Last month, one worker from our factory disappeared while returning home from work and never arrived. After three days without contact, his mother opened a case at the police station and later learned that he had been sent to a military unit in Shan State. We still cannot contact him directly. The military camp only said he was within the eligible age for conscription,” said Ko Kyaw Kyaw, a pseudonym used by a worker from a shoe factory in Hlaing Tharyar.
In May last year, IMNA interviewed a village administrator in Taunggyi, Shan State, who said local authorities were collecting money to hire replacements for military service instead of sending local youths. According to him, around two million kyat was being paid for each recruit.
Critics say military officers claiming to lead an elected government continue to ignore the basic needs of civilians while focusing only on consolidating their power.
Since the first weekly military training batch began in February 2024, the junta has reportedly recruited up to Batch 25, with estimates suggesting that more than 100,000 new soldiers have been recruited so far.
