Mandalay PDF warns ward administrators over forced conscription and extortion

The People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Mandalay Region has warned that regime ward and village administrators could be designated legitimate “military targets,” accusing them of forcibly recruiting males aged 18 to 35 under the regime’s conscription law in Madaya, Singu, and Thabeikkyin townships.

“We have warned them against [this],” a PDF spokesperson told DVB, adding that some administrators were collecting bribes of 10,000 kyats ($2.22 USD) from each household monthly as a “military service fee,” to overlook conscription aged males from families in their targeted areas for recruitment.

The regime regained control of Madaya, Singu and Thabeikkyin from the PDF between November 2025 and January. The townships are located 25–90 miles (40–144 km) north of the region’s capital Mandalay.

Myanmar’s conscription law, officially known as the People’s Military Service Law, requires males aged 18–35 and females aged 18–27 to serve for at least two years.

The National Unity Government (NUG) stated that it had documented around 135,080 males conscripted into military service across 27 rounds of conscription since the regime began enforcing the law on Feb. 10, 2024.

Regime media reported that the 28th intake began at military training centers across the country on Sept. 7.