A graduation ceremony for battalion formation and training, involving officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of Battalion No. 6 in Pakokku District, was held on March 18. During the graduation ceremony, the Pakokku District correspondent-in-charge delivered an opening speech, and battalion officials gave encouraging words to the graduating trainees. This training program is part of the military council’s force strengthening initiatives, as they continue to forcibly conscript civilians and mandate military training participation.
The military council has been conducting forced recruitment and military training programs due to manpower shortages caused by ongoing conflicts across the country. Furthermore, the council is rushing these training programs to completion and forcibly deploying trainees to combat zones. These training programs represent one of many human rights violations committed by the military council and constitute violations of international law. The military council continues to enforce mandatory military service and oppression against civilians, using these training programs as a means to bolster their forces despite widespread resistance from the people of Myanmar.
