By Ra Wai / MPA

The military junta has renewed its campaign of arrests for forced conscription in Mawlamyine, Mon State, targeting civilians amid escalating recruitment efforts.

The military junta resumed arrests for forced conscription in Mawlamyine, Mon State, on Jan.23, following the enactment of the bylaw under the People’s Military Service Law, according to a source close to the junta’s state government office.

“It’s not just about the new regulations—they need conscripts for the next training,” the source told MPA.
“They are arresting people at city checkpoints under the pretext of interrogation. At night, they raid homes in the outskirts. In the late hours, when fewer people are on the streets, they round up conscripts.”

Although soldiers stationed at checkpoints are not officially assigned to conscription duties, they are allegedly incentivized with substantial rewards—reportedly over 100,000 kyats per conscript.

“They’re making extra money while on duty,” the source explained.

“The actual conscription is carried out by joint teams from various junta departments, who also receive payment for each recruit.”

The junta primarily targets domestic migrant workers living on the city’s outskirts—individuals who have moved to Mawlamyine for work but are not local residents.

“They go after these workers because they’re less likely to resist, and their disappearances are easier to conceal,” the source added.

Forced conscription in Mawlamyine surged in Dec. 2024 but gradually declined in January. However, arrests restarted in late January 2025.

Residents of Mawlamyine and Chaungsone townships are now being forced to pay hefty sums to secure substitutes for military service, with the current price for a replacement standing at 5 million kyats.

Meanwhile, the junta launched the 9th batch of people’s military training on January 20 at regional command headquarters across the country.