Myanmar’s junta has announced it will implement a law requiring men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 to serve in the army for at least two years, as it struggles to quell armed resistance to its 2021 coup.
announced its information service “Entry of Law on Popular Military Service from February 10, 2024”. A statement published on Saturday February 10 did not give further details, but the Ministry of Defense said “Publish necessary rules, procedures, orders, notices and instructions”.
“Given the situation our country is experiencing, an inclusive national military service system is essential”In an audio message broadcast by the junta’s information service, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun defended himself.
2021 In conflict with a military putsch
The law, dating from 2010 and previous military power, was never implemented. It provided that the period of military service could be extended to five years and that those who ignored their summons could be imprisoned for the same period.
Burma has been torn by a violent conflict fueled by military pressure that toppled leader Aung San Suu Kyi and ended a ten-year democracy bracket in 2021.
According to the UN, the fighting has displaced more than 2 million civilians with no peaceful outcome in sight. More than 4,400 people have died in the crackdown, according to a local monitoring group.
The ruling generals decreed a six-month extension of the state of emergency in late January, in effect once again postponing the elections promised since the 1 coup.er February 2021.
