Missing person advertisements significantly increased after the conscription law came into effect, says Myanmar Witness report

Photo caption- Opening ceremony of the 4th batch of the People's Military Service Training in Hpa-An, Ayeyarwady Region. Mizzima Missing person advertisements have significantly increased in Myanmar since the military junta began implementing the People's Military Service Law on February 10, 2024, according to a new report by Myanmar Witness. The report indicates that while only four missing person cases were recorded in January 2021, the number surged to 82 in January 2025. This represents a significant increase following the enforcement of the conscription law. Regions that recorded the highest number of missing person cases in 2024 were Yangon Region with 163 cases, Mandalay Region with 32 cases, and Shan State with 25 cases. An analysis of the missing person advertisements revealed that the majority were men and teenage boys. In 2024, 233 men and 149 women were advertised as missing. The report suggests this reflects that the primary target of the Conscription Law is men of conscription age. Myanmar Witness reported that mass arrests, forced conscription, collection of census data, and age verification have been observed in the implementation of the Conscription Law. According to the Ministry of Human Rights' Conscription Watch Dashboard, over 26,000 arrests and 1,514 cases of forced conscription have been recorded as of January 2025. Furthermore, the report highlights the connection between the repatriation of Myanmar nationals from neighboring countries and conscription. From February 2024 to May 2025, over 3,313 Myanmar nationals were repatriated to Myanmar from Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Thailand. More than 84 percent of these were repatriated from Thailand, totaling over 2,500 individuals. Case studies presented in the report indicate that some individuals repatriated from Ranong, Thailand, were directly sent to military camps and training schools without being allowed to return to their homes. On the Indian side, the report states that biometric data of over 5,000 Myanmar nationals have been collected in Manipur state, and repatriation processes are underway. Malaysia also repatriated over 200 Myanmar nationals in February 2025. Myanmar Witness concludes that there is a correlation between the increase in missing persons after the Conscription Law came into effect, the disproportionate impact on men of conscription age, and arrests, forced repatriations, and conscription. The report states that the effects of the Conscription Law are impacting not only those within Myanmar but also the youth who have fled to neighboring countries and their families, as evidenced by the growing number of missing person advertisements on social networks.