Myanmar Enforces Mandatory Military Service Amid Ongoing Clashes
- Ethnic groups have wrested control of some townships
- The military extended its emergency rule into a fourth year
Soldiers in Yangon.
Photographer: Sai Aung Main/AFP/Getty Images
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Myanmar’s military government announced a compulsory military service for all young people as clashes with ethnic armies intensified in many townships, mostly in Rakhine State.
The military enforced the People’s Military Service Law enacted by the previous junta in 2010. All men aged 18-35 and all women aged 18-27 must serve for two years under the military command. Specialists like doctors and engineers — under the age of 45 for men and under 35 for women — could be assigned to serve for three years, according to the law.