The military junta-backed Mon State government is planning to establish a youth centre in Mawlamyine’s Mupun Ward, a move that local sources say could be used to attract young people into military service.
Mon State Chief Minister announced on May 30 that the state government would spend 500 million kyats to build the youth centre, saying it aims to support young people’s development in education, arts, music, literature, and other creative fields.
However, Mon youth organizations have expressed skepticism about the project. They said they do not trust the military junta’s intentions and fear the centre could be used to persuade young people to attend military training courses at a time when the junta is facing growing demand for recruits under the conscription law.
“Young people have no confidence in any project currently being implemented by the military junta. We believe these initiatives are intended to serve their own interests. We say this because no Mon youth organizations actively working on youth issues were involved in planning this youth centre. We were not invited to participate,” said a male representative of a Mon youth organization.
Officials said the youth centre project is being implemented based on resolutions adopted during the 2026 Youth Forum held in Nay Pyi Taw.
However, youth activists said individuals actively involved in Mon youth affairs did not attend the forum. They added that the youths representing Mon State were only allowed to listen to messages delivered by the Mon State government and were not given the opportunity to participate in discussions or decision-making processes.
According to Mawlamyine residents, concerns about safety among young people have increased since the implementation of the conscription law. Arrests, inspections, and forced recruitment reportedly occur frequently at checkpoints, during travel, and in daily activities.
“Young people cannot escape the military junta’s control wherever they go. If they encounter a joint inspection team at a checkpoint, they can be accused under various charges. Those who can pay are released. Those who cannot may end up in military training. The amount demanded is not 400,000 or 500,000 kyats. They ask for as much as 2 million to 3 million kyats,” said a male resident of Myine Tharyar Ward in Mawlamyine.
A Mawlamyine resident also said the proposed youth centre is expected to be built on land near a police station located within a military-controlled area in Mupun Ward.
