The Junta has mandated a 24-hour high alert for the families of its soldiers and police spanning across all 8 military regions.
This provision, enforced by the coup leader Min Aung Hlaing's order since May 3, was incorporated by the Junta into Myanmar Gazette Volume 77 No. 21, published this week.
"It appears that the provision primarily targets regions with intense fighting, suggesting the Junta's urgent attempt to replenish manpower amid ongoing depletion”, Naung Thurein, commander-in-chief of the People's Revolution Alliance – Magway (PRA-Magway) told MNJ.
The Junta has ordered families of servicemen in the northern, northeastern, southeastern, eastern, western, northwestern, central, and southern military regions to maintain a 24-hour vigilance on a par with the vigilance required with those fighting on the frontlines.
In the recent decree by the Junta, both troops and police personnel across the 8 military regions, along with their family members, are now subject to the high alert protocol as outlined in the Tatmadaw Act.
“As per the Junta's announcement, the protocol is expected to include not just combat troops and militia members, but also non-combatant troops employed in arms factories, along with their families”, Naung Thurein said.
In these regions, Junta troops are consistently losing ground to resistance forces, leading to continuous relinquishment of control over villages, towns and military installations.
"This protocol, typically reserved for frontline deployments, entails a constant state of 24-hour combat readiness. Even during nighttime hours, immediate compliance with orders from superior officers is required. Any breach of protocol during this period may incur severe penalties”, a retired major explained to MNJ.
The 1995 Tatmadaw Act also mandated the activation of this protocol during enemy engagements or when operations are in motion.
In mid-May, the Junta declared that it had engaged in discussions with the special envoy appointed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the intention of seeking a peaceful resolution to the Myanmar crisis. However, contrary to this assertion, the Junta has proceeded to implement the conscription law, coercing civilians into military service, and is actively intensifying its recruitment efforts.
