Fear grips Yangon as junta intensifies forced conscription, portering

By Admin 12 Sep 2026

DMG Newsroom

12 September 2026, Yangon

Young people and local residents across Yangon Region report growing fear during routine travel as the military junta accelerates forced conscription and street-level arrests for portering to meet military recruitment targets.

Arbitrary arrests and forced portering by military junta personnel have been concentrated primarily in Insein, South Dagon, North Dagon, Hlaingthayar and Thaketa townships, according to local residents.

“We frequently spot junta soldiers roaming around in plainclothes after 9:00 p.m. It creates immense difficulty during late-night medical emergencies because people are terrified of being grabbed for forced conscription if they step outside,” said a male resident from South Dagon Township.

Military junta personnel in plainclothes are patrolling streets across Yangon after 9:00 p.m., seizing people found outdoors while using military vehicles to intercept civilians.

In Hlaingthayar Township, factory workers said military junta forces are targeting young labourers, severely disrupting their ability to work night shifts.

“We often have to work overtime at the factory, so we are constantly living in fear,” a female factory worker said.

Along with late-night street abductions for forced conscription, the military regime is also using financial incentives and deceptive promises to entice impoverished individuals into military service.

A representative from the Rangoon Scout Network reported that plainclothes abduction squads operate in groups, targeting quiet streets and bus stops.

“They are desperately grabbing people to fill their assigned recruit quotas. During dark hours in deserted areas, they seize anyone walking down the street or sitting at bus stops and force them into vehicles. Most operate in civilian clothes, though some wear police or army uniforms. They carry out random abductions as well as coordinated group operations,” the representative said.

Data from the Rangoon Scout Network indicates that at least 98 people were forcibly abducted for military service in Yangon during August alone.

Since enforcing the Military Service Law, the military junta has pursued aggressive measures to replenish its ranks amid mounting battlefield casualties across Myanmar.

The military regime has now reached Military Training Batch 28, maintaining an official target of 5,000 recruits per batch.

Countless workers from various states and regions who relocated to Yangon for employment now face severe security threats due to the ongoing campaign of forced abductions.