CNI News
7 August 2025
The emergence of Hluttaw is urgently needed to end the forced conscription of civilians by armed organizations during the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, point out military and political analysts.
A civil war began in Myanmar three months after independence on January 4, 1948, and continues to this day.
During the civil war, various armed groups fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw enacted various laws to force civilians to serve in the military, and the Myanmar Tatmadaw also enacted the Military Service Law on February 10, 2024.
The Myanmar Tatmadaw is recruiting 5,000 people per batch and now it has already recruited until the 15th batch. The ethnic armed groups fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw are recruiting one person per household.
An elected Hluttaw by the people is needed to ensure that there is no forced military service, Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party, told CNI News.
Military trainees of the Myanmar Tatmadaw
"When soldiers died in battle, some armed groups arrested civilians and recruited them into the war. The Myanmar Tatmadaw enacted the conscription law and recruited by force. If there is no civil war in the country, every citizen should join the military and serve in the military. But there is a civil war in the country. So, our citizens are fighting against one another. It is very dangerous. We need a Hluttaw elected by the people to solve this problem. Because there is not a Hluttaw for the time being, it is hurting the people badly." said Sai Htay Aung.
In one country, the current president has to implement the People's Military Service Law, while on the other hand, the head of the National Defense and Security Council is the Commander in Chief of the Defense Services, Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), told CNI News.
While a PDF military training graduation ceremony was being held
"Arresting for recruitment was related to imposing martial law in unstable areas during the SAC era. Now martial law has been revoked in some areas. According to Chapter 8 of the Constitution, martial law is a state of emergency. The rights of a citizen has been revoked. The National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) is responsible to regain the rights of a citizen. Now the government led by General Nyo Saw is not a civilian government, but it is led by the Prime Minister who has taken off the military uniform. On the other hand, the chief of the NDSC is the Commander in Chief of the Defense Services. You will understand if these two things are weighed, I think." said Dr. Aye Maung.
Since civilians and youths are being recruited in the civil war breaking out in Myanmar, they are living in fear and some of them are fleeing to foreign countries.
Others are displaced and are living in other places within the country and facing a variety of troubles. Only if a Hluttaw emerged, could forced conscriptions stop, pointed out military and political analysts.
Currently, elections in Myanmar are scheduled to be held in December 2025 and January 2026.
