Myanmar resistance urges pushback against conscription, call for conscripts to desert

Mizzima

The People’s Defence Force (PDF) issued a statement 18 September urging the people to oppose and fight against the Myanmar military junta’s forced conscription programme, and calling for those who have been forcibly conscripted to desert the military service and contact revolutionary organizations whenever they get the opportunity.

The statement indicates that starting from February 2024, the military junta has been using the National Military Service Law to recruit civilian youths. Between July 2024 and August 2026, it opened 27 batches of national military service training and conscripted approximately 135,080 people.

The PDF stated that these forces are being used to launch nationwide offensives, and conscripts make up a large portion of these military columns. However, casualties have occurred during these offensives, and those who were forcibly conscripted account for the majority of the casualties, according to the statement.

According to records from the PDF Ministry of Defence, from July 2024 to August 2026, there were 20,383 deaths on the military’s side, 9,792 injuries, 3,874 people defected in the People’s Embrace (Pyithu Yinkwin) scheme, about 20,000 deserters, and 536 prisoners of war, the statement stated.

Furthermore, it added that in urban areas controlled by the military junta, Pyusawhti members (junta’s armed guards), ward and village administrative groups, and criminal gangs are cooperating to abduct youths and to extort money from them.

Highlighting that forced recruitment now targets not only young men but also young women, the PDF urged the public to jointly oppose this programme.

The PDF urged youths at risk of forced recruitment to take steps to flee to revolutionary territories or abroad, to avoid traveling alone and going out at night, and to leave their military units and outposts if they were conscripted and the opportunity arises.

Those in need of assistance were also urged to contact the PDF, People’s Defence Organisation (Pa-Ka-Fa), People’s Administration Organisation (Pa-Ah-Fa), People’s Security Teams (Pa-La-Fa), the Pyithu Yinkwin (People’s Embrace) shelter programme, and ethnic revolutionary organizations.

Additionally, the statement mentioned that youths arriving in revolutionary territories can participate in public service operations such as education, healthcare, IDP assistance, regional development, and production, and arrangements will be made for them to join the PDF and Pa-Ka-Fa if they meet the criteria.

The PDF also announced that if those who were forcibly recruited and deserted their military units, necessary connections and assistance will be provided, and rewards will be given to those who join along with their weapons.