Khaing Lu Hla (Roma Mray) — Arakanese youths, who were sent back to Myanmar from Thailand after completing prison terms, were forced to serve in the junta military activities and even they are sent to the front line areas to fight against the Arakan Army (AA).

"My brother attended a basic military training course for two months. There were many Rakhine people in the training camp. After the training, they were asked to join the battles. My brother, along with another man from Mrauk-U who was sent back from Thailand, was sent to the front line in Padang under  Magway region," said an Arakanese national.

The Padang front line, where an intense fighting is going on between the junta forces and AA fighters, is located on the eastern side of the Arakan Roma mountain under Magwe division of Burma proper.

These young men were forced to serve in the military when they were released from Thailand and sent back to Myanmar via Ranong in November 2025.

"My brother said he was paid a small amount of money and so he asked me to send some as he was struggling to pay for food and drinks. I sent him money twice. First time, I sent  MMK 600,000 and later MMK 350,000. The phone services are not reliable and  it becomes difficult to communicate with them. Most of them are now feeling depressed," he added.

The concerned families express worries for  their loved ones as they are shifted to Nat Yee Kan air defense base in Padan locality in the  Magway region, where gun fighting against the AA fighters is  going on.

Since 10 February 2024, after the military service conscription law was repealed, 2,686 Rakhine people were illegally detained for military services, said a report released by the Spring Revolution Database (SRD) on 22 February.

Rakhine people are the second most detained group (after the mainstream Burmese nationals) for military services in Myanmar.

Similarly around 200 Rakhine men, who were deported from Malaysia, have been forced into military service.