Myanmar’s junta has declared mandatory military service for all young men and women, state media said on Saturday, as it struggles to contain armed rebel forces fighting for greater autonomy in various parts of the country.
All men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 must serve for up to two years, while specialists like doctors aged up to 45 must serve for three years.
The service can be extended to a total of five years in the ongoing state of emergency, state media said.
Myanmar has been gripped by chaos since the military seized power from an elected government in a 2021 coup.
So I want to tell everyone to proudly follow this people's military service law," junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told state media.
Persons:
Zaw Min Tun, Deepa Babington
Organizations:
Reuters
Locations:
Myanmar, British