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Voice of Conscripts

HURFOM: In order to realize the impacts of the forceful and unlawful conscription law in Burma HURFOM has interviewed three individuals who fled the junta’s army and sought shelter with the armed revolutionary forces.

Interview #3 – Ko Wine Chit (Tenasserim Division)

I was sleeping at my home on September 8^th, 2024 when the soldiers arrived by military truck. They arrested me for abusing drugs. Upon reaching the police station, they threatened me with jail or joining the army. I replied I would go to jail and they gave me a document and forced me to sign it, but I refused. My mother couldn’t reach me, I was forcefully collected as a conscript on October 4^th.

I was sent to the 12^th military training school in Pu Law District. There were 387 conscripts there as part of batch #5. They gave us 11 military items at the start of the training. We’re paid 180,000 MMK in the first month. In the next two months, we got 240,000 MMK per month. But then they cut our salaries, to only 150,000 MMK.

During the training, they delivered propaganda to us, saying the PDF would torture us and post videos on the internet before killing us. They also encouraged us that everybody must fear us.

The military training finished on December 29^th, 2024. I was transferred from the 558^th battalion to the 208^th Light Infantry Battalion in Kyikemayaw, Mon State. I stayed there for about 20 days and then was sent to the front lines in Ye Ta Gon, Thanbyuzayat Township.

Previously I had contact with the revolutionary forces. Upon reaching the front line, they allowed us to use mobile phones at 7 am but they seized the phones in the evening. But I secretly kept my phone. I have had a brotherhood relationship with four members of the resistance forces. I requested help from them and they gave me a contact number and I was able to get help. I also urged my friends to leave the army and told them to take responsibility if they were recaptured. I had a bit of fear after running away from the army but later, I wasn’t afraid of death.

Since our arrival to the revolutionary forces, they have treated us like brothers and sisters. I felt like I was living in my mother’s house. I am in contact with my family once a week. As of today, there has been no intimidation by the army to my parents. I told them if the army asks my whereabouts, they should say that I was dead.

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