By Mg Dagon / MPA
Some impoverished residents from suburban areas of Yangon Region, particularly Shwepyithar and Hlaingthaya Townships, have reportedly volunteered for military service under the junta’s conscription law, according to informed sources.
Some men over the age of 30 have reportedly approached junta-appointed administrators and officials to express their willingness to enlist.
“Just a few days ago, I had to visit the neighborhood office for an errand when two young men came in to register for military service. They were right next to me. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. They looked like heavy drinkers, with a rather disheveled appearance,” said a 40-year-old woman from Shwepyithar Township, who witnessed the incident firsthand, speaking to MPA.
Due to the presence of individuals voluntarily enlisting, incidents of forced recruitment, claims of being listed for conscription, and monetary extortion have reportedly become less frequent in most neighborhoods of Shwepyithar Township, according to local residents.
“In our neighborhood, we haven’t heard much about forced military recruitment. There’s no money being collected for it either. However, a security fee of 3,000 kyats per month is being collected,” said a male resident.
In areas of Shwepyithar Township bordering Hlaingthaya and Hmawbi Townships, reports suggest that some monetary collections are being made under the pretext of supporting military recruits. However, the exact amounts remain unclear, according to another male resident closely following local developments.
“In our township, since the start of military recruitment, we haven’t seen any major issues. I’m not sure if people are handling it on their own or if neighborhood and village committees are managing things behind the scenes. Or perhaps, as mentioned earlier, there are enough individuals voluntarily enlisting? I can’t say for certain,” he said.
Similarly, in Hlaingthaya Township, which borders Shwepyithar, some individuals have reportedly expressed their willingness to join the military. However, unlike in Shwepyithar, residents in Hlaingthaya face regular monetary collections—almost monthly—for military recruitment, according to locals.
“The neighborhood administrator once told us that because some people are willing to enlist, our sons and daughters are not being called up,” said a mother from Hlaingthaya (East) Township, whose children are of conscription age.
She added that in their neighborhood, a monthly military service fee ranging from 20,000 to 35,000 kyats is being collected.
“That amount is still manageable, but the real burden is on households with multiple eligible individuals. If there are five people subject to conscription, the fee must be paid for all five. Many families are struggling not just to cover daily expenses but also to find extra money for these military service fees,” said the woman in her 50s.
Despite voluntary enlistment in certain areas, reports indicate that junta-affiliated authorities in other townships within Yangon Region continue to enforce conscription aggressively. These efforts include forced recruitment through public abductions and arrests during guest list inspections.
On March 17, the junta held opening ceremonies for the 11th weekly public military training at regional military headquarters training schools.
