Myanmar Junta Applicable Military Service Law

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing leads the Myanmar military parade. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - The regime of Myanmar's junta enacted a military service law allowing them to summon men aged 18 to 35 years, and women from 18 to 27 years to serve for two years. This statement was announced by the Myanmar junta on Sunday 11 February, when the country's forces were overwhelmed against rebel forces, who fought back after the military coup in 2021. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the takeover of civilian power from elections by the military in early February 2021. Since the military rule, chaos emerged, and the people staged mass protests demanding the return of democratic civilian rule. However, Myanmar's junta responded to the demonstration with a crackdown. Now after three years have passed, Myanmar's junta forces met tough resistance from armed group alliances joining ethnic minority militias. Myanmar's junta information department said the effectiveness of the enactment of the people's military service law began February 10, 2024. The law was made junta in 2010 but was never enforced. It was said that Myanmar's junta Defense Ministry would issue regulations, procedures, announcement orders, notifications and instructions required regarding the law. A national military service system involving all people is crucial because of the situation in our country, said junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun. The law also stipulates that in an emergency state, the work period can be extended to five years and those who neglect calls to serve can be imprisoned for the same time term. Myanmar's Union announces a state of emergency when they seize power in 2021, and the army has recently extended the situation for six months.

The rebel group calling itself the people's defense forces has recruited tens of thousands of young members and fought the junta throughout the country. In late October, the ethnic minority fighter alliance launched a surprise attack in northern Shan state, seized territory and took control of a lucrative trade route on the Myanmar-Chingkok border.