Myanmar junta ‘even greater threat’ to civilians as it imposes military draft: UN expert

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - Myanmar's military junta is becoming an “even greater threat” to civilians as it imposes a mandatory military service, a UN expert warned Wednesday.

Tom Andrews, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, called for stronger international action to protect “increasingly vulnerable populations,” according to a statement by the UN human rights office.

"While wounded and increasingly desperate, the Myanmar military junta remains extremely dangerous," Andrews said.

"Troop losses and recruitment challenges have become existential threats for the junta, which faces vigorous attacks on frontlines all across the country," he added.

As the Myanmar junta forces young men and women into the military ranks, it has accelerated attacks on civilians, Andrews said.

Myanmar has been under junta rule since February 2021, and the military, locally known as the Tatmadaw, has faced severe resistance from ethnic groups in many regions of the country.

On Feb. 10, the junta issued an order that is said to have brought the 2010 People's Military Service Law into force.

The law stipulates that citizen men aged 18-35 and citizen women aged 18-27 are eligible for conscription, though "professional" men can be conscripted up to 45 and women up to 35.

- Five-year imprisonment

Those who evade military service or help others evade military service are subject to up to five years imprisonment. A junta spokesperson has indicated that the junta intends to conscript 5,000 individuals monthly in April.

Due to inaction by the UN Security Council, the special rapporteur urged states to strengthen and coordinate measures to reduce the junta's access to the weapons and financing it needs to sustain its attacks on the people of Myanmar.

"Make no mistake, signs of desperation, such as the imposition of a draft, are not indications that the junta and its forces are less of a threat to the people of Myanmar," said Andrews.

"By seeking to activate the conscription law, the junta is trying to justify and expand its pattern of forced recruitment, which is already impacting civilian populations around the country," he added.

The special rapporteur said that in recent months, young men had reportedly been kidnapped from the streets of Myanmar's cities or otherwise compelled into joining the military's ranks.

He said villagers had reportedly been used as porters and human shields.

"Young people are horrified by the possibility of being forced to participate in the junta's reign of terror. The numbers fleeing across borders to escape conscription will surely skyrocket."

The special rapporteur called for more humanitarian aid for impacted communities, including through cross-border assistance.

"Now, more than ever, the international community must act urgently to isolate the junta and protect the people of Myanmar," said Andrews.