Myanmar's military junta stands accused of a disturbing new human rights violation: the forced conscription of Rohingya Muslim men from internment camps to bolster its offensive against ethnic rebel forces in Rakhine State.
According to sources within the camps and a United Nations report seen by The Independent, the regime is coercing dozens of men into its ranks. This development marks a grim twist in the long-standing persecution of the Rohingya minority, a group the military has previously been accused of attempting to eradicate.
A Desperate Strategy in a Brutal Conflict
The forced recruitment drive comes as the junta struggles to contain a powerful offensive by the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic armed group fighting for greater autonomy in Rakhine. With its regular forces suffering significant losses, the military appears to be resorting to desperate measures, exploiting a vulnerable population it has systematically oppressed.
One refugee recounted the terrifying ordeal to The Independent: "They said, 'You are under our control... If you do not join, we will arrest you.' We are surrounded, we have no way to escape."
From Victims to Cannon Fodder?
This tactic has sent shockwaves through the international community. The Rohingya, who have faced decades of discrimination and violence culminating in a genocidal campaign in 2017, are now seemingly being forced to fight for the very institution that displaced them.
The UN human rights office has verified numerous instances of this practice, noting that those who refuse face threats of violence or arrest. The report suggests the junta is also luring some recruits with false promises of citizenship and financial rewards—empty offers for a stateless population largely denied legal recognition.
Aung San Suu Kyi's Complicated Legacy
The crisis unfolds against the backdrop of the continued detention of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Once a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and symbol of democracy, her reputation was severely tarnished by her defence of the military's actions against the Rohingya during her time in power. Her current stance on this new atrocity remains unknown from her place of detention.
Regional Stability Hangs in the Balance
The escalating conflict in Rakhine threatens to destabilise the entire region. There are growing fears of a fresh exodus of refugees into neighbouring Bangladesh, which already hosts nearly a million Rohingya in overcrowded camps. A renewed refugee crisis would place an immense strain on resources and international aid efforts.
As the junta's grip on power weakens, its actions in Rakhine demonstrate a alarming disregard for human rights and a willingness to stoke further ethnic and religious tensions to maintain control, putting countless more lives at risk.
