BAGO DIVISION – After the junta council approved and signed the conscription law, young people who do not want to serve in the junta army are joining the People’s Defence Forces from various regions.
There have been at least 50 civilians from various regions joined the Waw Township People’s Defence Organization (PDO) from February 10 onwards, said an official of Waw PDO.
He added that the youths who have come and joined Waw PDO are not those who want to go abroad since they are afraid of junta’s conscription law, but those who come to fight back against the military council, thus they are now given basic military training.
It is said that the food and shelter for the newly arrived young people are arranged with the help of donors, and the military training is being taught by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and those with military experience from the allied revolutionary forces.
“Those who came to join Waw PDO have been delayed joining the revolution due to family problems, but when the fascist council’s pressure make them not being able to live in their places, they came to join the revolutionary groups,” said Ko Myaegyi, who joined Waw PDO.
The atrocious council announced that the first batch of militia training will be started after the new year Thingyan festival, and 5,000 people per batch monthly and total 60,000 people per year will be called up for military service.
According to the conscription law, men, between the ages of 18 and 45 and women, between the ages of 18 and 35, must serve in the military for at least 2 to 5 years.
It is mentioned that those people who refuse to serve in the junta’s military and those who try to avoid in any way not to join will be sentenced at least one to five years imprisonment.