Myanmar’s Military Junta Coercing Rohingya Muslims into Military Service Amid Civil War

13-03-2024

Paloma Perez

East and South Asia Team Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence.

Amid the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, reports have emerged of Rohingya Muslims who remain in the country being coerced into military service following the enforcement of the compulsory Conscription Law in February. Since the 2021 coup d'état, Myanmar's military junta (Tatmadaw) has encountered opposition, notably for their genocidal crimes against Rohingya Muslims, and has been unable to suppress an armed uprising. This resistance involves both armed civilians and ethnic armed groups that have opposed the military regime. Ceasefire agreements in January followed attacks by ethnic groups in northern Shan State (Lynn, 2024). Currently, the Tatmadaw's focus has turned to Rakhine State, where it faces the imminent threat of losing control to the Arakan Army (Abuza, 2024).

While facing substantial defeats against the ethnic Arakan Army, the Tatmadaw is resorting to enforcing a Conscription Law, unveiling their desperation and oppressive tactics. Myanmar's Conscription Law, initially established in 2010, remained dormant until February 10th, 2024, when Tatmadaw declared mandatory military service for men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 (Ng, 2024). This law, set to be implemented in mid-April, requires a minimum commitment of two years of military service. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in eligible individuals facing imprisonment for up to five years. The junta aims to enlist approximately 60,000 new members annually, with recruitment organised in monthly groups of around 5,000 individuals (Sam & Jones, 2024).  However, eligible individuals have been fleeing urban areas in Myanmar, expressing a strong desire to either leave the country entirely or join anti-junta forces in remote border regions instead (Ratcliffe, 2024). 

Certain sources contend that the Tatmadaw is leveraging the promise of freedom of movement for Rohingya Muslims, who have been confined to displaced persons camps in Rakhine state, as a means of coercing them into military service. However, the military junta continues to deem Rohingya Muslims as stateless, while failing to offer them citizenship in exchange for military service, instead only promising freedom of movement within the Rakhine State. Given this lack of citizenship status in Myanmar, Rohingya Muslims are not even eligible for compulsory military service (RFA Burmese, 2024).  Other sources assert that Rohingya Muslims in Sittwe are also facing pressure from the Tatmadaw to participate in conflict, enticed by promises of improved food supplies, the possibility of obtaining national ID cards, and the threat of ration cuts if they refuse to enlist (BHRN, 2024). Some contend that forced military conscription and manipulative tactics are in line with the military junta's agenda to create tensions between Rohingya Muslims and the ethnic Rakhine (RFA Burmese, 2024).

The Tatmadaw should be held accountable for multiple violations of the 2020 provisional measure set by the International Court of Justice, including acts that violate the Genocide Convention (GC).  By manipulating food provisions to harm the Rohingya population and creating conditions conducive to their partial or complete destruction, the military junta is in violation of Articles 2(b) and (c) of the GC. Moreover, the forced conscription of Rohingya individuals could be considered forms of forced labour prohibited under Articles 1 and 2 of the Forced Labour Convention. Additionally, Article 51 of the Geneva Convention (IV) on Civilians prohibits any form of pressure or propaganda aimed at securing voluntary enlistment (BHRN, 2024). The international community must step up its monitoring, enforcement of sanctions, and legal actions against all parties involved in the coerced and forced enlistment of the vulnerable Rohingya Muslims.

Sources and further readings:

Abuza, A. C. B. Z. (2024, March 10). Kachin offensive opens new front for overstretched Myanmar junta forces. Radio Free Asia. <https://www.rfa.org/english/commentaries/myanmar-kachin-03102024075341.html> Accessed 13 March, 2024.

BHRN. (2024, February 28). Burmese Army forcibly recruiting Rohingya by threatening to cut food ration - Burma Human Rights Network - BHRN. Burma Human Rights Network - BHRN. <https://bhrn.org.uk/en/press-release/1243-burmese-army-forcibly-recruiting-rohingya-by-threatening-to-cut-food-ration.html> Accessed 13 March, 2024.

RFA Burmese. (2024, February 22). Myanmar’s military recruiting Rohingya at displaced camps. Radio Free Asia. <https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/recruiting-02222024174652.html> Accessed 13 March, 2024.

Lynn, K. (2024, March 4). Myanmar’s military is playing a dangerous game in Rakhine state. The Diplomat. <https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/myanmars-military-is-playing-a-dangerous-game-in-rakhine-state/> Accessed 13 March, 2024.

Ng, B. K. (2024, February 26). Myanmar: Young people attempt to flee ahead of conscription order. BBC News. <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68345291> Accessed 13 March, 2024.

Ratcliffe, R. (2024, February 29). ‘They have lists of everyone’s names’: Myanmar conscription law unleashes wave of fear. The Guardian. <https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/feb/28/myanmar-military-conscription-law-details> Accessed 13 March, 2024.

Sam, K., & Jones, A. (2024, February 26). Myanmar youth look to flee conscription or join armed rebels fighting junta: ‘the army is losing control.’ South China Morning Post. <https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3253196/myanmar-youth-look-flee-conscription-or-join-armed-rebels-fighting-junta-army-losing-control> Accessed 13 March, 2024.