The coup Junta is exerting pressure on over 100 ethnic Chins residing in ten villages within Ann Township, Rakhine State, to enlist in the military. Chin residents of villages like Sinkhontaing, Patkwae, Kyetyaekyun, Peinyaysan, and Taungsauk, situated along the Minbu-Ann highway, were directly informed by Junta soldiers and persuaded by village administrators to enlist in the military.
"They have informed us twice that Chin villagers must join the military. Since some people already left the village, they are now forcing those of us who remain to enlist”, an Ann villager said.
The Junta troops exerted pressure on local villages, requiring them to send 10 to 20 villagers from each village to serve in the military.
With the escalation of clashes between the Arakha Army (AA) and the Junta in Ann Township, numerous locals have already fled their homes.
"We have been hearing about lists being prepared for conscription. However no one has enlisted yet. With the ongoing conflict, many have already evacuated, making it uncertain what will happen next”, a woman from Ann told DMG.
On February 10, the Junta enforced the conscription law, compelling civilians to join military service to alleviate the critical shortage of manpower within its ranks.
Residents report that in areas still under firm control of the Junta, local youths are being forcefully summoned as conscripts, with few options to defy the Junta's authority or escape the situation. As the Junta continues to enforce conscription on residents in the townships under its control in Rakhine State, many young people are fleeing in panic.
