On July 22, draft lotteries were conducted across townships in Mandalay for youth aged 18 to 35 years to determine their military service rotation periods, with all participants drawing lots that required mandatory service. The lottery events, which took place in most townships including Aungmyethazan, were specifically designed to establish service periods for young people, with every participant drawing lots that confirmed their conscription duty.
During the lottery, youth were assigned sequential numbers determining their service periods, with some scheduled for duty in August while others were assigned to September. There were instances where two young people from the same household were drafted to serve simultaneously. Parents were required to draw lots on behalf of their children and had to sign agreements acknowledging the assigned service periods after the dates were recorded. The process notably excluded children of ward administrators and their staff members, fire service personnel, Red Cross workers, military council employees, and wealthy business owners, while primarily affecting youth from lower and middle-income families.
The conscription requirements extended to individuals regardless of their current circumstances, including those with health issues, those residing abroad, university students, and workers, all of whom were assigned specific service periods. The systematic nature of the draft process highlighted the military council’s approach to conscription, which appeared to disproportionately target ordinary citizens while exempting those with connections to the administration or significant financial means. This development represents a significant expansion of mandatory military service requirements affecting young people across Mandalay’s urban areas.
