Legal experts claim that since Myanmar has denied the Rohingya citizenship and refused to acknowledge them as one of the nation's ethnic groups, the campaign is unlawful.
Following the enactment of a nationwide conscription law, Myanmar's military junta is actively seeking to enlist Rohingya Muslims into its army, extending an offer of freedom of movement to those confined to camps in the Rakhine state in an attempt to incentivize their participation in military service.
Legal experts and rights activists argue that this recruitment drive violates Myanmar's refusal to recognize the Rohingya as a legitimate ethnic group and its longstanding denial of citizenship to this community. They also suggest that the junta's motive behind drafting Rohingya individuals into the military is to exacerbate ethnic tensions in the Rakhine state.
The implementation of the "People's Military Service Law" has led to widespread evasion among eligible citizens, with many opting to flee the country or join anti-junta forces rather than enlist in the military, which seized power in a coup d'état in 2021. The military's desperation for new recruits has intensified following multiple losses to the ethnic Arakan Army (AA) in the Rakhine state.
Approximately one million Rohingya refugees have sought shelter in Bangladesh since 2017, when they were forcibly displaced from Myanmar by military operations. Within Myanmar, another 630,000 Rohingya individuals, including those residing in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, face statelessness and restrictions on their movement within the Rakhine state.
Reports from the Kyauk Ta Lone IDP camp reveal that junta officials, including military commanders, have conducted a census to identify Rohingya individuals eligible for conscription. Despite resistance from camp residents, the military has coerced more than 160 individuals into enrollment.
The junta's recruitment efforts extend beyond the Kyauk Ta Lone camp, with reports of arrests and data collection targeting Rohingyas in various regions, including Sittwe, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and other parts of Kyaukphyu. Villagers have been detained under the pretext of defending against AA threats, with promises of training and armament before their return to their communities.
Legal experts assert that the People's Military Service Law should not apply to Rohingyas due to their lack of citizenship status in Myanmar. Activists view the recruitment as a tactic to exploit ethnic divisions and divert attention from the junta's losses in Rakhine state. The AA has urged ethnic Rakhines to seek refuge in areas under their control, highlighting the junta's oppressive tactics, including forced military recruitment and extrajudicial killings.
Despite these developments, the junta has provided no official information regarding its efforts to recruit Rohingyas, and inquiries to government officials have gone unanswered. The conscription law targets millions of eligible citizens, with plans to recruit up to 60,000 service members annually, starting in April 2024.
0 Comments