Myanmar’s Lost Generation: Conscription Crisis and the Fight for Freedom

Myanmar stands at a precipice, its youth caught in the crosshairs of a brutal military regime and a burgeoning resistance movement. The declaration of mandatory military service in February 2024 has triggered widespread fear and desperation, forcing young people to make impractical choices between fighting for freedom and fleeing for survival.

The crisis began with “brutal crackdowns” on peaceful protests following the 2021 coup. In response, thousands of young people sought refuge in the jungles, taking up arms against the military.Hundreds of thousands more joined the civil disobedience movement, abandoning their studies to “protest military rule through demonstrations and strikes.”

Forced Conscription and the Exodus of Youth

With the junta’s February 2024 declaration of mandatory military service for men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27, the situation has escalated. Those who refuse face up to five years in prison. “Reports of young men being abducted to boost the number of military conscripts,” have become increasingly common, fueling panic and driving a desperate search for escape routes.

Overseas education, offering temporary exemption from conscription, has become a coveted lifeline, but only for the wealthy.With Myanmar’s currency plummeting, “tuition fees and living costs” abroad have become “prohibitively expensive for most.” Even for those who once dreamed of foreign study,the door is rapidly closing.

For those unable to afford overseas education, funding options are dwindling. The united States agency for International Development (USAid) funding freeze has suspended the “development and inclusive scholarship program,” which once provided a crucial lifeline, leaving more than 400 Myanmar students pursuing degrees in the Philippines, Cambodia, indonesia, and Thailand facing an uncertain future.

Evasion, Resistance, and a nation Divided

The announcement of mandatory conscription triggered a wave of conscientious objection and evasion. A study by the Burma Affairs & Conflict Study group estimated that at least 100,000 young men attempted to evade conscription within two months.In early 2025,conscription efforts were expanded by “compiling lists of eligible women,” intensifying the scramble to escape forced enlistment.

Travel restrictions further compound the crisis. Those eligible for conscription face “an outright ban” on leaving the country for work. Myanmar’s international “airports,” particularly in Yangon, have become “nerve centres of surveillance, coercion and corruption,” where bribery determines who can depart and who remains trapped.

Facing impossible choices, many young people opt for internal migration, going into hiding, or “irregular border crossings” into neighboring Thailand. Simultaneously occurring, armed resistance groups are “making bold declarations” of a decisive strike against the junta in 2025. Duwa Lashi La, leader of Myanmar’s government in exile, stated, “We have to strike a final blow [against the junta].” Resistance groups have been urging young people to evade conscription and join their ranks in the fight for freedom, and many have reportedly “answered the call.”

The social and Humanitarian Fallout

Mandatory conscription inflicts deep wounds not only on young people but also on their “families and communities.” A December 2024 study by Hurfom “found that” forced recruitment has destroyed communities. Families are “desperately selling assets, pawning valuables, or incurring crippling debt” to protect their children.

The Rohingya ethnic group faces heightened peril. Already vulnerable due to statelessness and displacement, they are at “a greater risk of abduction, forced conscription and entrapment in the crossfire” between the Myanmar military and various opposition groups.

The long-term consequences are devastating. Young people are being robbed of their education, careers are being lost, and families are being drained of resources. A UN Development Program study revealed that myanmar’s middle class had collapsed by 50% within three years of the coup, underscoring the nation’s rapid economic decline.

A Call for Deeper Understanding

While global attention focuses on the armed conflict and humanitarian crisis, it is crucial not to overlook the deeper social costs.the destruction of Myanmar’s youth has consequences that will haunt the nation for decades to come.

What is the single most effective way the international community can support Myanmar’s youth during this conscription crisis?

Myanmar’s Conscription Crisis: An Interview with Activist Anya Soe

The recent implementation of mandatory military conscription in Myanmar has plunged the country’s youth into a state of crisis. To understand the ground realities and implications, we spoke with Anya Soe, a leading activist with the “Free Myanmar Youth Initiative,” who has been working tirelessly to support those affected. Anya, thank you for joining us today.

Understanding the Conscription Law and its Impact

Archyde: Anya,for those unfamiliar,can you explain the conscription law in Myanmar and its immediate impact on the young population?

Anya soe: Absolutely.The military junta’s declaration in February 2024 making military service mandatory for young men and women aged 18-35 and 18-27, respectively, sent shockwaves across the country. The threat of imprisonment for refusal, coupled with reports of forced recruitment, has triggered widespread panic and a mass exodus of young people seeking any means of escape. This mandatory military service has disrupted lives and created a climate of fear.

Fleeing the Country and Limited Options

Archyde: We’ve heard about the surge in attempts to leave the country. What are the primary escape routes, and who is most affected?

Anya Soe: Overseas education is seen as a temporary reprieve, but it’s only accessible to the wealthy. Most young people simply can’t afford the tuition and living expenses,especially with the plummeting value of the Myanmar currency. Other options,like crossing borders irregularly into Thailand or seeking refuge in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps,are fraught with danger. The most vulnerable are those from marginalized communities, including the Rohingya, who face even greater risks of forced conscription and violence.

Resistance and the Call to Action

Archyde: The news also mentions increasing resistance. are young people joining armed resistance groups, and how is this shaping the conflict?

Anya Soe: Yes, many young people, faced with the impractical choice of forced military service, are choosing to join the armed resistance. While they are heeding calls for freedom, we’re seeing more young people joining resistance groups as well. This influx is undoubtedly bolstering the resistance movement’s capabilities but also deepening the conflict and exposing these young individuals to immense danger.

The Humanitarian Crisis and Community Impact

Archyde: We know the humanitarian situation is dire. What are the most pressing needs, and how are families coping?

Anya Soe: Families are making unimaginable sacrifices to protect their children. They’re selling their possessions, incurring debt, and enduring immense emotional distress. The collapse of Myanmar’s middle class exacerbates the situation. The most pressing needs are safe shelter, food, medical aid, and psychological support for those traumatized by the conscription crisis and the ongoing violence. Community support networks are stretched thin.

The Future of Myanmar’s Youth

Archyde: Looking ahead, what are your biggest concerns about the long-term impact of this crisis on Myanmar’s youth and its future?

Anya Soe: My biggest concern is the loss of an entire generation. Young people are being robbed of their education, their careers, and their futures. This will have devastating consequences for Myanmar’s growth for decades to come. We risk creating a lost generation burdened by trauma and deprived of opportunities.The destruction of Myanmar’s youth talent pool is immeasurable for the nation’s ongoing peace.

A Call for Action

Archyde: what actions do you believe the international community should take to support the people of Myanmar during this tough time?

Anya Soe: The international community must impose stronger sanctions on the junta, provide direct humanitarian aid to affected communities, and support efforts to hold those responsible for human rights violations accountable. Increased funding for education and vocational training programs outside of Myanmar is crucial to providing young people with alternatives to conscription. More pressure needs to be made on Myanmar to allow aide and access to the affected regions. Engagement with and support for the parallel government is vital to demonstrate the international community’s rejection of the military coup.

Archyde: Anya Soe, thank you for sharing your insights and perspectives on this critical issue. Your work is vital, and we appreciate you taking the time to speak with us.

Anya Soe: Thank you for giving me the chance to share these critically important issue with your audience.

archyde: What do you think is the single most effective way the international community can support Myanmar’s youth during this conscription crisis? Share your thoughts in the comments below.