Forced into Conflict: Myanmar’s junta intensifies forced conscription, abducting hundreds, including civilians, trans individuals, and resistance fighters. Nighttime raids and travel restrictions deepen the crisis as fear grips Mandalay and Bagan.
BY PC Bureau
Myanmar: Hundreds abducted in forced conscription drice
Since the start of the year, Myanmar’s military has intensified forced conscription efforts, abducting hundreds of young men and women in Mandalay and Bagan. The Mandalay Strike Committee reported 237 kidnappings across seven townships in January alone, including Aungmyaytharzan, Chanayethazan, Maha Aungmyay, Chanmyathazi, Pyigyitagun, Amarapura, and Patheingyi. Among the abducted individuals were trans people, resistance fighters, and vulnerable civilians, including those deemed ineligible for conscription.
“They mainly targeted ordinary people commuting to or from work,” a monitoring group member said. “This is a deliberate move to drag young people into the ongoing armed conflict.”
The junta abducted more than 10 young men who visited Bagan for failing to report guest registration during household inspections & forcibly recruited them into the military.The regime’s drafting youths & bribes no longer ensure the release.#2025Feb4Coup#WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar pic.twitter.com/bVGKvLuip9
— 陈成镇 (@ChenChengZhen) February 4, 2025
Conflicting Reports on Women’s Conscription and Travel Restrictions
Despite junta denials, there have been mounting reports of attempts to conscript women, a move that contradicts traditional norms in Myanmar’s military recruitment practices. While some sources allege that women are being pressured to enlist in logistical and support roles, the regime has publicly dismissed these claims as “baseless fabrications.”
ALSO READ : Kanye West Calls Wife Bianca’s Sheer Dress “Art,”
Additionally, multiple reports have surfaced of young people being barred from leaving the country. Border checkpoints have intensified scrutiny, with security forces allegedly detaining young men and women attempting to cross into Thailand or India without explicit military exemptions. “Many families are now desperate to send their children out of the country before they are forcibly drafted,” said a resident near the Myawaddy border.
Cybersecurity Law Weaponized to Arrest Civilians
Arrests have also been linked to Myanmar’s recently enacted Cybersecurity Law, which criminalizes the use of virtual private network (VPN) apps and possession of material critical of the regime. Violators face up to six months in prison. Security personnel have conducted random phone checks, detaining individuals found with VPN apps or politically sensitive content. Some detainees were reportedly released after paying bribes.
ALSO READ: Myanmar: Third Attempt to Auction Suu Kyi’s Mansion Falls Flat Again
Bagan’s Targeted Raids and Nighttime Abductions
In Bagan, junta forces and local administrators conducted sweeping raids over the weekend, abducting dozens of people in their 20s and 30s. Many targeted individuals were displaced persons from conflict zones in Pakokku and Myingyan townships, who had fled to Bagan for safety.
Myanmar’s embattled junta has banned anyone eligible for military conscription from leaving the country without permission, as it seeks to shore up its forces fighting rebel groups opposed to its rule. https://t.co/svC2usTbdY
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) February 5, 2025
“The regime is targeting those without proper documents, such as citizenship IDs and household registration certificates. Many had fled fighting and couldn’t bring the necessary paperwork,” a Bagan resident explained.
The junta has also stepped up nighttime arrests under provisions of the Police Act, which allows police to detain anyone unable to explain their presence between sunset and sunrise. Plainclothes soldiers now patrol the streets in private cars, snatching pedestrians without warning.
Deteriorating Security in a Heritage Site
As Bagan sees a surge in domestic tourists during the travel season, gambling dens allegedly operated by junta allies have mushroomed, destabilizing the region further. The once-thriving UNESCO World Heritage site has become a hotspot for surveillance, arrests, and forced conscription, deterring foreign visitors.
Junta Denials Amid Worsening Crisis
Despite mounting evidence, the regime continues to dismiss reports of forced conscription as “fake news” aimed at discrediting its operations. However, residents, human rights groups, and local monitoring committees report an increasingly dire situation as Myanmar’s military struggles to replenish its ranks amid growing resistance.
