Responses to the military council's announcement that the military service law is in effect
The announcement about People's Military Service Law was issued that the People's Military Service Law, enacted by Senior General Than Shwe, the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council through Order No. 27/2010 on 4th November 2010, will come into forces on 10th February 2024, and it was issued with the signature of the Chairman of State Administration Council through Order No.27/2024.
And SAC continued to release the announcement that the Reserve Forces Law enacted as Law No 28/2010 of the State Peace and Development Council on November 4, 2010, would come into force on February 13, 2024, it was issued with the signature of the Chairman of the State Administration Council through Order No.32/2024. At the same time, to implement the law, on February 13, 2024, notification No. 1/2024 issued the formation of a Central Body for summoning people's military servants.
Response of Maj. General Zaw Min Tun
Spokesperson for Myanmar's State Administration Council (SAC), Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said that regarding the People's Military Service Law, efforts were being made to implement it after the April New Year, aiming to recruit an initial batch of 5,000 recruits, and although it could be suspended, he/she would have to return to serve someday, those who had to serve would be added proportionately, the aim of People's Military Service law was for every citizen of the country to learn about defense, the service must be carried out according to the skills of the individuals, and that for the case of suspension, individuals must submit the suspension request by themselves, and that after completing of suspension, he must return to service ever he was over 35 years old, and related to the army's recruitment, it was a little less than normal, and the recruitment was less in 2021-2022, it happened only because of the COVID-19 and political situation, he also said that the families of most military personnel were already in the reserves and had been taught the basics of defense.
In addition, he also expressed that according to the 2019 Inter-censal survey, 6.3 million men and 7.7 million women were eligible for military service, and the soldiers will be given salary and food as well as necessary things, and the ability to protect the nation, the power to protect the state and the need for all citizens to be educated to protect the nation in the Long Term Plan was needed.
Response of NUCC
The National Unity Consultative Council responded by saying , "Enacting this law is forcing the future of the country's students and youth into the battlefield, planning to use them as human shields, and blatantly committing a war crime."
NUCC als urged that as the international community is unable to effectively prevent and take action against the crimes committed by the terrorist group, more serious crimes will continue to be committed, which will worsen the regional instability. Therefore, international governments, including ASEAN and the United Nations, should respond quickly and also help and protect civilians and young people who have to flee with humanitarian assistance.
It also stated that as for the revolutionary forces, they should be prepared to deal with this situation in the best way without breaking their security line, and civilians and young people who do not want to be forcibly recruited should connect with them and come to the liberated areas to participate in the spring revolution. as for NUCC, the necessary process and measures will be taken as soon as possible to provide protection in cooperation with NUG, ethnic armed resistance forces and revoluntionary forces.
Responses of EROs and Federal Units
KNU spokesperson Padoh Saw Taw Nee said, "The army is an illegal group. Since it is an illegal group, what he said is illegal. No matter what he publishes, it will not be recognized" discussed .
KNDF President Khon Bi Htoo said, "As a military council, this action is difficult to succeed; It is difficult for the military council troops to go to the front even among themselves. Those who did not like the military council entered the war, There will be more mutinies within the military council. The process of recruiting soldiers will be difficult. If the military council chases people and forces them to serve in the military, this process can be carried out completely. If you collect people and ask them to go to the front, there will not be enough back. If given administrative responsibility, rebellion in the army, that there will be news leaks, These days, more and more revolutionary organizations are contacting and registering. The coup military council needs to comply with the public's wishes as soon as possible. If this continues, there will be more bloodshed everywhere. He said that only if he had to protect the foreign enemy, he would be able to do so without military service. He said that he did it to protect his coup d'état. If he uses this strategy, his army will be more disintegrated .
Nai Mon Sai, the Chairman of the Administrative Committee of Mon State Federal Council (MSFC) said that youths can be pressured to join the army through the village administrator. However, many Mon people in Mon State are now working in Thailand and Malaysia. Due to this law, if passports are issued, civilians would be pressured and told that they could issue the passport only after joining the army, so the illegal entry into Thailand may increase. The monks were also pressured and forced to enter into Pyusawhtee. Due to the low strength of the SAC, SAC could pressure the civilians in various ways. SAC can pressure the village administrator and the monks. If youth are going abroad, they will look at the census and parents can be pressured. He also said he invited youth to join the revolution and join the revolutionary army somewhere.
Response of NUG
On February 13, 2024, the National Unity Government's statement on the "People's Military Service Law" was issued stating that the terrorist military group announced that the People's Military Service Law must be enforced, which was only an illegal act, and the public did not need to follow it at all, and that was working to protect the interest power of the military group, therefore, any person who assisted in the implementation of the People's Military Service Law and all levels of relevant organizations would be designated as enemies of the people who committed war crimes and would be dealt with effectively, and the NUG and allied organizations would cooperate and protections and assistance would be provided.
Then, on February 13, 2024, the National Unity Government's statement on the military junta’s effort to implement the conscription law was issued stating that this was another piece of evidence that shows that the military junta is ready to commit to a wider scale international war crimes and crimes against humanity that they have been perpetrating, this had created an additional threat to regional stability and security, and the National Unity Government urges the United Nations, ASEAN, and leaders of the region and the world to take measures as soon as possible to effectively prevent the actions of the military junta.
Response of CRPH
On February 13, 2024, CRPH stated that there was absolutely no need for the people to accept and follow any laws, orders instructions on the people, including civil servants which were imposed by the illegal coup d'état group as they are not valid; on February 11, 2021, the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw - CRPH's announcement No. (3/2021) was announced; the Fascist SAC was trying to maintain power with unjust orders; participating and collaboration in the stages of the military apparatus to further oppress the people was committing a serious war crime; the National Unity Government and partner ethnic alliances were also urged to provide systematic support by keeping in mind the security aspect of the region to the people who are evading; ILO was urged to take effective action against the military group in accordance with the provisions to military group; and also requested to the regional and international governments, including the United Nations Security Counci, and the parliamentary to give special attention and help in practical protection.
Response of CSOs and Strike Committees
U Maung Maung, chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar, said, "Workers can be arrested at any time. They can arrest young people who are struggling for livelihood. Young people in the industrial zone are worried, the production may decline and prices may rise; As young people, they must take care of their mental and physical movement".
On February 13, 2024, the Anti-JuntaMass Movement (AJMM), The General Strike Committee (GSC) and the General Strike Committee of Nationalities (GSCN) jointly stated, "The forced recruitment of soldiers by the coup d'état group is a forced admission that they have failed on various fronts, as the people of all nationalities already know. Taking advantage of the deteriorating situation, the fight to eradicate the military dictatorship must be carried out by the people of all ethnic groups together. It is important to respond with a collective strategy according to the situation without causing too much concern and reacting hastily. Self-liberation efforts using legal exemptions and loopholes are not the answer. It is important to strengthen ourselves, family and friends in order to respond to the various situations that will arise. Moreover, in the statement, it is also included the an "emergency alert" for the youth who did not accept the coup d'état, the young people who do not want to join the fascist army, which brutally arrests and tortures people of all ethnicities, and for organizations including the armed forces; political forces; to both civil society organizations and the international community (especially neighboring countries).
On February 13, 2024, the Anti-junta Forces Coordination Committee - Mandalay stated that regarding the People's military service law, the public needs to be as calm as possible in responding to the law, and the entire population needs to participate in opposition to the Militia Conscription Law as acts of violent military action that ultimately oppress the public, and urged the National Unity Government, the ethnic resistance forces, and the spring revolution forces, respectively, coordinated and negotiated to address the difficulties and crisis of the pepole thay may arise as the result of this law.
Response of political party
On February 14, 2024, the Democractic Party for a New Society (DPNS)'s political opinion about "the bloodthirsty actions of the war monster" was released, and among these opinions, (1) the illegal actions of those who have no right to do so, (2) the actions of harassing and threatening the public, (3) the actions that will intensify the instability, and (4) the actions of the bloodthirsty military group that are taking steps to destroy the country; such factors were included.
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