Young men live in fear of being snatched off the streets and sold to Myanmar's army
Summary
Young men in Myanmar's Karen state live in fear of being taken by the military to serve in a forced conscription program. The military government is aggressively recruiting people between certain ages by arresting, extorting, and abducting them to join its ranks in an ongoing civil war.Key Facts
- Young men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must serve at least two years in Myanmar's military.
- Those who refuse military service face up to five years in prison.
- The military has been enforcing the recruitment law by patrolling streets and arresting young people.
- About 100,000 young people have been conscripted since early 2024.
- Many targeted individuals have fled Myanmar or stay indoors to avoid the military.
- The recruitment is part of the military junta's effort to strengthen its forces after losing ground in the civil war.
- International human rights groups report abuses like forced recruitment, abductions, and extortion by the military.
- The Myanmar government’s relevant military recruitment office declined to comment on these reports.
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