Provisional Government Deputy Minister Admits to Forced Conscription, Military Junta Conceals in Propaganda Newspapers

Ayeyarwaddy Times July 23 The military junta, which has suffered heavy losses in battles against resistance forces since the coup, is forcibly conscripting citizens day and night under the People's Conscription Law to fill its depleted ranks. This was admitted by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs of the Provisional Government, Brigadier General Min Thu, during a session of the Provisional Parliament. During the Provisional Parliament session held yesterday, July 22, when U Goon Wun, a representative from the Kantyi constituency, questioned the issue of conscription, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs of the Provisional Government responded as stated above. The Deputy Minister admitted that when recruiting new soldiers under the People's Conscription Law, those listed are evading in various ways to other regions, and therefore, they are being summoned by monitoring their routes of travel and even their homes. He acknowledged that in the eyes of the public, this appears to be forced abduction. This Conscription Law, signed and approved by military leader Min Aung Hlaing, targets young adults and is a method of "making neighbors fight each other." However, on the ground, individuals of all ages are being threatened, summoned, and extorted for money. Those unable to pay are arrested and sent to the front lines. Those sent to the front lines have their contact with their families severed and are used as human shields, according to testimonies from new recruits who have surrendered and defected. Furthermore, the Deputy Minister stated that lists of those evading conscription by fleeing domestically and internationally have been distributed to military checkpoints at town entrances and exits, as well as to ward and village administrators. He said that if such evaders are found during household registration checks, they will be prosecuted under the Conscription Law. He revealed that currently, 320 conscripts have been recruited in Kantyi Township, and 16 evaders have been arrested. After the video of the Deputy Minister's admission went viral, the Provisional Government's propaganda newspapers, in their July 23 editions, focused solely on news from Kantyi Township, while concealing the fact that the Deputy Minister himself admitted to nationwide forced conscription. Currently, in Naypyidaw, Yangon, and across the country, the Provisional Government's army has been frequently carrying out forced conscription and abduction of children and young people, including minors. They continue to enter homes to threaten, extort money, and forcibly abduct individuals. Photo – Provisional Parliament, Military Junta