By Ra Wai / MPA

Representatives of political parties aligned with the military junta have reportedly proposed increasing forced military recruitment during a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, according to jntu-affiliated media outlets.

Representatives of junta-aligned political parties made this proposal during the second day of the National Solidarity and Peace-making Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) meeting, organized by the military junta, along with the working group of junta-recognized political parties. The meeting took place in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday, according to media outlets affiliated with the junta.

A Yangon-based political columnist told MPA, “At a time when even prudent senior military officers are considering ways to distance themselves from the junta, civilian representatives from these so-called political parties are disgracefully vying to curry favor with Min Aung Hlaing. This is nothing more than a recommendation to entrench the junta’s long-term hold on power. On another level, it might also signal that these representatives could one day face the same fate as the generals.”

The representatives also submitted six proposals, including matters related to the 2025 general election, initiatives to stabilize the country, and strategies to encourage defections from the People’s Defense Force (PDF).

The meeting was attended by Lieutenant-General Tun Tun Naung, chairman of the NSPNC and appointee of Min Aung Hlaing, alongside committee members, Ko Ko Gyi (chairman of the People’s Party and leader of the political party working group), and other representatives.

Since the enactment of the People’s Military Service Law on February 10, 2024, the military junta has conducted several rounds of military training, starting with the first batch on April 8, 2024. The junta announced plans to recruit 5,000 individuals per batch, with the ninth batch currently undergoing training.