The military council has begun implementing a new direct conscription system across Myanmar where township offices directly summon young people by cross-referencing village and ward office records with census data, according to sources directly involved with township military recruitment committees. The council claims this new system aims to prevent bribery and the use of substitutes in military recruitment by having township offices directly summon young recruits and their parents after verifying census records against lists submitted by ward and village administrative offices.
A source connected to military recruitment committees in Yangon Region explained that this direct oversight by township committees is intended to reduce instances of extortion and threats during the recruitment process, with township offices now directly managing conscription matters. In Einme Township of Ayeyarwady Region, local residents report that young people from villages are being directly summoned to township military recruitment committee offices. A youth from Shwebo Yegyaw village in Einme Township described how previously, military service lottery draws and donation collections were handled at village administrator offices, but now summons are being sent requiring youth to draw lots and register at township offices. He noted that young people aged 18-35 are now going into hiding and afraid to stay at home due to livelihood difficulties.
In Kyaukpadaung Township, Mandalay Region, military forces have begun conducting direct recruitment drives in three villages near Nyaung-U Road and Byatta Pan Sate Road after residents failed to report to township recruitment offices. According to local residents, military personnel visited Warchine Gyi, Thanpaukpin and Thaytwine villages on February 24, requiring all young people to register and sign up for military service. Rather than selective recruitment, they reportedly demanded signatures from nearly every household with young people, including those who were married. The military council is reportedly intensifying youth arrests and summons in late February for their 11th military service intake scheduled to begin in March.
