185 young men from Kale (Kalay) Town in Sagaing Region have been arbitrarily arrested and conscripted since the conscription law came into effect on 10 February 2024.
The first arbitrary arrests and conscriptions took place during the sixth round of conscription in October 2024 when 45 people were taken.
Subsequently, in the seventh and eighth rounds of conscription 50 and 30 people respectively were arrested and conscripted. The ninth and current round of subscription started at the beginning of January and since then 60 more people have been arrested and conscripted.
According to the Kale Town People’s Struggle Leading Committee, which reported the figures on 6 February 2025, they could well be an underestimate with the real number being higher.
In Kale, soldiers have arbitrarily detained young people, not only in residential areas but also within the compounds of religious buildings. Though many of the detained youths had also been called up for conscription, their arrests had no direct connection to their conscription.
Surprise checks on busy roads in Kale Town have increased since the beginning of the year and it has become more difficult than ever for families to pay bribes to have the arrested released, according to an official from the Kale Town People’s Struggle Leading Committee.
He said: “The arrests are still ongoing. Soldiers suddenly appear, conduct checks, and then make arrests. This method is becoming more common. Once the soldiers take the young people away, there’s no way to negotiate for their release. The arrests have left all residents of Kale Town, especially parents with young adult children, deeply distressed. Some have suffered mental trauma.”
The conscription law also allows for the conscription of women between the ages of 18 and 27. During the first eight rounds of conscription women were not conscripted but during the current ninth round of conscription the junta has started registering and targeting women for conscription in some areas.
In Kale Town, the current ninth round of conscriptions has, for the first time, seen junta appointed administrators leading operations to arrest and abduct for conscription not only young men, but also young women.
A young woman from Bontaw Village near Kale Town was arrested by the junta during the last week of January 2025 and was going to be conscripted. However, the junta soldiers released her after she managed to prove that she had recently undergone abdominal surgery and paid them 1.5 million MMK, according to a source close to her who spoke to Khonumthung News.
They said: “She is still young. She was arrested on her way to downtown Kale and drafted for conscription, but she had recently undergone surgery for a stomach issue, so she wasn’t fit for military service. The soldiers then demanded 1.5 million MMK for her release. Now she is free. Arrests have become rampant these days, and almost everyone lives in fear of being arrested at any time, for no reason.”
Amid the increasing number of arrests of youths in Kale Town the Kale Town People’s Struggle Leading Committee has advised youths from the town to avoid going out at night, steer clear of areas where soldiers are present and to stay alert to the movements of junta soldiers.