"Room and Board Provided"... Myanmar Military Regime Forcibly Conscripting Youth Through 'Fake Job Postings'

Struggling Against Resistance Forces... Troop Reinforcements via Fake SNS Notices
"Suddenly Taken from Interview Room to Training Camp"

The Myanmar military regime, struggling against resistance forces, is reportedly luring young people through false job advertisements and forcibly conscripting them to address manpower shortages.

On the 24th, local media Myanmar Now reported that the Myanmar military government posted recruitment ads on social networking services (SNS) seeking drivers and mechanics to attract job seekers.

The advertisement targeted males aged 18 to 25 and specified conditions such as salary and accommodation provision. However, based on testimonies from those with experience, Myanmar Now stated, "There is no mention of military involvement during the recruitment process, but only after the interview and entering training do they realize they are being forcibly conscripted into the army."

The forcibly conscripted men are reportedly deployed to combat zones across Myanmar after about six months of basic military training. A 20-year-old man who was deceived by such a fake advertisement said, "They told us that pay would be determined based on training results and made us participate in the training, but I did not know it was military training."

Ethnic armed groups opposing the Myanmar military junta
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

He added, "About 50 people, including myself, were taken from the interview venue to the training camp, and our mobile phones were confiscated," and "They threatened that if we left the unit, our families would suffer."

Since the military coup in February 2021, when the military seized power, Myanmar has been in a de facto civil war as resistance forces have taken up arms. On October 27, the "Brother Alliance," composed of the Arakan Army (AA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), launched a joint attack against the Myanmar military in Shan State, bordering China.

Subsequently, other ethnic armed groups from different regions and the People's Defense Forces (PDF) under the National Unity Government (NUG), the democratic interim government, joined the fierce fighting. The resistance forces achieved significant results, controlling most of the border trade hubs with China and capturing numerous Myanmar military bases.

Ultimately, the military government sought help from China and agreed to a temporary ceasefire with the Brother Alliance at a peace talk mediated by China on the 11th.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar military, cornered, is increasing conscription to counter the rebels. The military government also announced that deserters can return without punishment and resume service to replenish its insufficient forces.

Additionally, it revealed plans to have military training for soldiers' families and to organize units composed of civil servants and discharged soldiers.