In Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon State, ward administrators were reportedly forced to sign a pledge to meet the junta’s conscription quotas for each batch, agreeing to accept disciplinary action if they failed, according to sources who spoke to Than Lwin Times on condition of anonymity.

The junta has been holding meetings with administration officials in Mawlamyine in recent days, warning them to provide at least two conscripts each month. Administrators have reportedly been forced to sign a pledge agreeing to accept the junta’s actions if they fail to meet this demand.

The junta also warned them to recruit new conscripts ahead of the scheduled military training for each batch and to act covertly if collecting money from the public for conscription-related matters.

In the past, paid substitutes could be found to replace those who refused conscription, but such cases have now become very rare. The pressure to provide two conscripts for each batch, with punishment awaiting those who fail, is extremely harsh, a ward administrator who asked not to be named told Than Lwin Times.

“We had to sign a pledge saying that if we can’t recruit two conscripts for each batch, we’ll have to accept the punishment. As everyone knows, it’s no longer possible to hire replaced conscripts like before. The fact that there’s been no news about those conscripted in previous batches has made potential recruits even more reluctant to undergo military training. Right now, many of us administrators are really stuck in a difficult position,” he said.

Administrators are planning to conscript young people in their wards using a lottery system and to summon those who do not participate, if paid substitutes cannot be found, he added.

In some areas, junta-appointed administrators are reportedly trying to fill conscription quotas by offering money to youths or abducting young people who are out at night.

As a result, young people stay home after dark, going out only for urgent matters. Some have even fled abroad to escape the risk of conscription.

According to data compiled by Than Lwin Times, approximately 3,500 young men have been conscripted in Mon State across the junta’s conscription batches 1 to 19.

photo credit - MOI