The Burma Affairs and Conflict Study (BACS) announced on May 29 that over 1,600 young people were drafted into the military in Shan State due to the conscription law enforced by the Junta.
"I have two younger brothers, both just over 20 years old. One of them had planned to go to Korea, but now that the Junta has barred young people from going abroad, we are extremely worried and unsure about what to do next”, a woman from Yatsauk (Lawksawk) said.
The second batch of conscription recruits were distributed among 16 training centers across the country, including the five centres in Shan State
The young men recruited as conscripts were dispatched to the Junta's Military Advanced Training Depots (MATDs) in Shan State. Approximately 200 recruits were allocated to MATD-3 in Kengtawng, over 500 to MATD-8 in Tangyan, and 528 to MATD-11 in Kengtung. Nearly 200 were also dispatched to the No. 1 Army Warrant Officer and Non-Commissioned Officers' School in Ba Htoo Station town, while a similar number currently reside at the Military Computer and Technological Institute in Hopong, BACS reported.
As per BACS, over 4,000 individuals were recruited for the second batch conscription throughout Myanmar.
On May 29, at the Defense Services Technological Academy (DSTA) in Pyin Oo Lwin town, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing claimed that the conscripts voluntarily opted to serve in the army without coercion from any party.
The coup Junta enforced the conscription law on February 10, which had been enacted since November 2010 but remained dormant until then, and recruitment commenced in March. Presently, the Junta's military has drafted over 9,000 youths nationwide.
Since the implementation of the conscription law, a lot of young individuals have been fleeing the country to evade it, while others are choosing to join resistance forces rather than serving under the Junta.