Fri Apr 11 01:30:45 UTC 2025: ## Myanmar’s Forced Conscription Fails to Turn the Tide in Civil War as Thousands Flee
**Bangkok, Thailand** – Myanmar’s military regime’s forced conscription drive, launched a year ago to bolster its dwindling forces in the ongoing civil war, has largely failed to achieve its objectives, leading to widespread evasion and desertion. Thousands of young men and women, including high school teacher Aung, have fled the country rather than fight for the junta.
Despite the regime’s claim of drafting 60,000 new soldiers, analysts suggest the actual number is uncertain, and the conscription process has been marred by increasingly harsh tactics. Authorities have resorted to abductions from public places and extorted money from potential conscripts to avoid service. Reports indicate local officials have even been killed while attempting to enforce the draft.
The new recruits, often receiving minimal training (as little as three months), are reportedly being used as cannon fodder, deployed in the most dangerous frontline assignments, including being airdropped behind enemy lines. This has resulted in significant casualties, desertions, and defections. One former conscript, Ko Ko, described the use of draftees as human shields to disarm explosives.
The conscription drive, while providing some temporary relief to depleted battalions and boosting officer morale, has not significantly altered the course of the war. The military has lost ground, notably losing a regional command base in Rakhine state in December. Analysts estimate that the military controls less than a quarter of the country. Even with the new recruits, offensives remain limited, primarily relying on long-range artillery and air strikes.
The strategy, according to experts, may be less about winning the war and more about buying time through holding key territories while pursuing negotiations, possibly with the help of China. The recent ceasefire following a devastating earthquake, currently plagued by accusations of violations from both sides, highlights the ongoing fragility of the situation.
The widespread refusal to serve underscores the deep unpopularity of the military regime, whose brutal crackdown on civilians fuels the exodus of young people seeking refuge in neighboring countries like Thailand. Those who manage to flee, however, still face the constant fear of deportation and forced conscription back in Myanmar.
First Piper 