'My husband was forcibly conscripted. Months later he was dead'

In Myanmar, a woman named Chaw Su is facing a heartbreaking situation after her husband was forcibly conscripted into the military. The last time she saw him was in March, and just four months later, she received the devastating news that he had been killed while fighting on the frontlines. Chaw Su, who is only 25 years old, now has the heavy responsibility of caring for their three young children all on her own. She reflects on their life together, saying, 'We were always poor and struggled, but life was much more bearable with him. ' In February, the military junta in Myanmar announced a new rule that requires all men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 to serve in the military for up to two years. Since the military coup in 2021, which overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the country has seen a significant increase in violence and conflict. Over 50,000 people have lost their lives since the coup, and the military is now facing resistance from various groups, including volunteer defense forces and ethnic armed organizations. This situation has escalated into a full-blown civil war, with many areas of the country now under the control of these resistance groups. In response to the growing unrest, the junta has pushed forward with mandatory conscription, despite warnings from experts that this could worsen the ongoing conflict. The first training sessions for new recruits began in April. In July, Chaw Su received a call from her husband, who was one of two men from their village sent for military training. He informed her that he had been deployed to Karen state, a region known for intense fighting between the military and ethnic armed groups. He promised to call her when he returned to base after two weeks, but that was the last communication she had with him. At the end of July, a military officer called Chaw Su to deliver the tragic news of her husband's death. She recalls, 'I was completely out of my mind. The officer tried to console me with his words, but I felt that my life was over. ' The military claims that conscripts are entitled to a salary and compensation for their families in the event of death, but Chaw Su only received a small payment of 70,000 kyats, which is about $21, when her husband was first conscripted. After that, she received no further financial support. Many families like hers are left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones who are sent to fight. Another widow, Soe Soe Aye, has not heard from her son, who was conscripted six months ago. She shares her sorrow, saying, '[My son] joined the military to feed his mother. I regret letting him go. ' Now, she struggles with her health and relies on her youngest daughter for support, but she remains hopeful, saying, 'I just want to see my son. I don't have enough strength to face this. ' Many young people in Myanmar are taking drastic measures to resist the conscription order. Kan Htoo Lwin, a 20-year-old from Yangon, was conscripted and underwent three months of training. He describes the training as grueling, with threats of severe consequences for anyone attempting to escape. After completing his training, he found himself despising the army even more. During a journey to the frontline, Kan Htoo saw an opportunity to escape with two other men when their convoy stopped. They ran away under the cover of darkness and did not stop until they were far from danger. They managed to hitch a ride from a truck driver and made it to a safer area. Kan Htoo then joined a resistance group, known as the People's Defense Forces, which has been gaining support from young people disillusioned with the military junta. For safety reasons, he does not want to disclose the whereabouts of the other two men who escaped with him. While men have been the primary focus of the conscription efforts, women are also affected. Zue Zue, a 20-year-old from Yangon, made the difficult decision to abandon her dream of becoming a Chinese translator to join a special operations unit within the resistance. She states, 'Now my goal is to end this era of military dictatorship and make peace for our generation. ' Others, like engineer Min Min, have fled the country to avoid conscription. He left for Thailand when the conscription was announced and is currently living there on an education visa. However, he is struggling to find a job that matches his qualifications and is worried about the high cost of living. Many who escape to Thailand end up in low-paying jobs, and the Thai government has become stricter in catching illegal migrants. Min Min fears that when his visa expires, he will have to stay in Thailand illegally. He explains, 'I’m worried about the living costs. I have no choice but to find manual labor jobs. ' Back in Myanmar, Chaw Su is working odd jobs in her village to make ends meet for her children. She expresses the difficulty of her situation, saying, 'It’s hard to explain to other people the struggle I'm going through.