September 4, 2026
Forced conscription and arbitrary abductions have surged this September across various states and regions controlled by the military council, including Yangon Region, leaving draft-eligible men living in constant anxiety.
In Yangon Region, abductions for forced conscription are being actively carried out by the Thanlyin, Dala, Mingaladon, Hmawbi, and Hlegu military cantonments.
Those abducted are reportedly being sent to No. 6 Basic Training Depot in Pathein, No. 6 Advanced Training School in Oktwin, No. 1 Basic Training Depot in Hlegu, and No. 1 Advanced Training School in Taikkyi to be trained for military service.
A draft-eligible man currently working in Yangon shared his fear: “There are no jobs left in the rural areas. Since I can’t afford to go abroad like others, I moved up to Yangon. Now, just commuting to work every day is unsafe. I’m terrified. Since my workplace won’t let us off early, I’ve resorted to carrying a knife for self-defense.”
Initial data shows that in January, 475 people were arrested in Yangon Region. While 58 were released, 17 were immediately sent to military training camps, and the whereabouts of 197 others remain unknown.
In February, up to 58 people were abducted across Thingangyun, Hmawbi, Hlaing Tharyar, and Insein townships. In the first and second weeks of March, no fewer than 40 individuals were seized, leaving many factory workers terrified of working night shifts.
The abductions continued relentlessly: 33 in April, 61 in May, and 57 in June. In total, around 150 men across 15 townships were arrested during this period, with their current status largely unknown.
The mother of a draft-eligible youth stated, “He doesn’t really want to attend school. But I told him to enroll for now because students get a temporary exemption. I can’t afford to send him abroad like others do. After he finishes school, we will have to figure something else out. I simply don’t dare keep him in Yangon.”
Similarly, in July, 29 people were snatched from the streets while commuting, and 9 were abducted while waiting at bus stops and highway terminals, totaling 38 victims.
Although exact figures for August are not yet available, reports indicate that forced abductions have heavily targeted the outskirts of the city and isolated areas.
As the number of abductions rises in Yangon, concerns over the safety of factory workers have grown, prompting labor organizations to urge employers to adjust working hours to ensure safe commutes.
Under the conscription law enacted on February 10, 2024, the junta aims to draft 5,000 recruits per month. However, on top of this official quota, the military council is also aggressively continuing its long-standing practice of arbitrarily abducting civilians off the streets to fill its ranks.
