Residents of Shan State, as well as Yangon and Ayeyarwady regions, have reported that regime officials have begun registering women aged 18 to 27, who are eligible for military service, under its conscription law. Administrators have been verifying the registered addresses of these women to confirm if they are residing at their homes, according to local sources.
“Many young women working in factories around here are scared and either have returned home or have relocated to other areas. Authorities have been collecting [names for] registrations in recent days,” a Dagon Seikkan Township resident in Yangon told DVB.
Anonymous sources confirmed to DVB that ward and village administrators have begun verifying registration lists for women’s military service in several Yangon townships, including Dawbon, Thingangyun, Dagon Seikkan, Thaketa, Thanlyin, and Hlaing. The reports have mostly come from the city’s outskirts, where factories employing a large number of women are located.
“The implementation of women’s military service is now underway. We have learned that selected individuals will begin military training next month,” said a Taikkyi Township resident on the condition of anonymity. Taikkyi is located 49 miles (80 km) north of Yangon.
The Ayeyarwaddy Times online newspaper reported that the first intake of women conscripts for military training is expected to take place in February – one year after the law was enacted on Feb. 10, 2024.
A military recruitment official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed reports of women being registered for military conscription. “It’s just collecting and registering eligible citizens. There are no formal summons for military service for women yet,” the official told the BBC.
In the Shan State capital Taunggyi, SHAN News reported that women’s names were included on lists of those being conscripted into the military.
“Which parent would feel good if their daughter is taken away for military service?” a mother replied when asked by SHAN News.
Under the conscription law, women aged 18 to 27 are required to serve in the military for at least two years, and up to five in the case of an “emergency.” Myanmar has been in a state of emergency since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021.
The law also stipulates that men aged 18 to 35 must serve, if called upon to do so. Professionals like doctors and engineers must serve up to age 45. Married women and single mothers are exempt under the law.
The regime recently issued stricter regulations under its military conscription law. The first intake of military conscripts began last April, and the ninth intake commenced on Jan. 20. The Burma Affairs and Conflict Studies (BACS) stated that over 21,000 conscripts from intakes 1-6 have received training at 23 military schools nationwide.