The military regime is targeting homeless people in its conscription drive in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, according to residents.
Until recently, homeless individuals were seen in large numbers at Mandalay Central Railway Station, the central hospital, parks, markets, and in front of big shopping malls. However, locals are reporting a sharp fall in the homeless population as conscription patrols scour the city.
“We see hardly any people living on the streets these days. We have heard that they were snatched by patrolling junta soldiers and forcibly recruited into the Myanmar military,” one resident told The Irrawaddy.
The threat of conscription extends to children living on the streets, they added.
Homeless people are reportedly being targeted to replace the children of wealthy families, who are bribing junta officials to remove their sons from the conscription list. The families are paying bribes of between 2 million and 5 million kyats (US$953-$2,380), which has led to a market for “buying and selling” substitutes. Prime targets in this market are homeless people and migrant workers.
Charity workers estimate Mandalay’s homeless population numbered around 100,000 at the time of the 2021 coup. However, the Mandalay Region Social Welfare Department now puts the figure at just 60,000.
“Most of the young [homeless] people have ended up in the military. Police and administrative officials have detained them to make money. They use these individuals to replace others selected for mandatory military service. We heard they even create citizenship ID cards for some detainees being sent to the military. This amounts to human trafficking,” said an activist in Chanmyathzi Township who works with street kids.
A Mandalay business owner said homeless people involved in crime are often hired as stooges by junta supporters to intimidate local communities and extort money.
“Some homeless people have even bought homes and cars after becoming henchmen for local administrators working hand in glove with Pyu Saw Htee militias,” said a business owner.
The junta claims to be implementing a plan to protect and provide shelter for street children via its Committee on Children’s Rights, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement and related agencies.
Under previous governments, street children got the chance of a rudimentary education in street classes conducted by charity workers. However, large numbers of charity workers and philanthropists have either fled or been arrested by the junta since the coup, according to a humanitarian worker.
The regime activated the long-dormant Conscription Law in February last year following a series of military defeats that left its forces badly depleted. The law mandates two years of military service for all men aged 18 to 35.
The regime initially announced that conscripts would be recruited in batches of 5,000, but reports indicate this number is being exceeded by officials snatching conscription-age individuals from the street and homes. Military training for the ninth batch of conscripts began on Monday.
