In early February this year, the military government in Myanmar – which seized power in February 2021 - activated a conscription law that was first established over a decade ago. It requires young men as well as young women to serve in the military for at least two years. Under the previous military government of Myanmar, the law passed - but not activated - in 2010 requires males (aged 18 – 45) and females (18 – 35) to serve in the military for two years, but the service can be extended to up to five years in a national emergency. Among the potential recruits, whoever is deemed a “professional”, such as doctors or technicians, the minimum time served in the military would be three years - although the recruitment process is unclear. However, the conscription - set to begin in late April this year with about 5,000 recruits – now is said to exempt women for the time being. This sudden change of plans might be the response from the military government to the enormous public backlash it received after making the announcement in early February. After the original draft, men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 should have been drafted, which would have rounded to about 60,000 people within the first year. But according to the military government, it is not yet clear how long the exemption for women shall last. To avoid conscription, people are willing to flee the country, join a resistance force, pay high bribes or even go as far as severely injuring themselves to be deemed unqualified for service. Women are considering hasty marriages, while men are considering monkhood as one of the ways around conscription.
As someone who grew up in Germany, a country that suspended mandatory military service in 2011, reading such news was disconcerting. Germany has a rather complicated history with its compulsory military service. Since the abuse of compulsory military service by the Nazi regime (1933-1945) the country is rather careful when it comes to calling upon the armed forces. During that time, similar to in Myanmar now, every German man between the ages of 18 and 45 was liable for military service, which could last up to two years. However, for Germany, the end of the Second World War in 1945 also meant the end of its army. During the war, the Allies had decided to demilitarize the country in the event of victory. It was only around ten years later, in 1955, that the compulsory military service (later called “Bundeswehr”) was embodied in the German constitution again. However, for those who did not want to join the military, the option of civil service was available for the same amount of time. Compulsory military service - and therefore also the civil service - in Germany was suspended on 1st July 2011. The “Bundeswehr” thus became a volunteer army. This decision, however, was preceded by years of emotional political and social debate about the importance of conscription for a democratic state.
I grew up in a sheltered environment, knowing that as a woman, I would never have to serve in the military and by the time I finished elementary school, we all knew that none of my male friends would have to either. I still remember watching the news about the suspension with my dad - who served in the army before going to university for two years himself - and him being happy for my generation, but also at the same time, not being sure how exactly he should feel about the concept of a volunteer army. However, for my generation and those following, our education is secured for as long as we want to attend school or university. We don’t have to fear being suddenly forcefully enlisted and having our freedom of choice taken away from us.
However, the young generation of Myanmar faces exactly that terror. Not knowing if they can finish their education, not knowing if they would have to actively fight, not knowing if maybe later even as women they might be called to serve. Therefore, young people are considering studying abroad, hundreds applying for visas and university students doubting whether there is a reason for them to continue their education. Other high school-aged teenagers are not attending classes anymore, as their parents are afraid they might be picked up by junta officials on their way to or from school.
As far as I am aware, comparing Germany and Myanmar is much more complicated than that; reading such stories as a German exchange student studying here in Korea now feels different compared to a couple of months ago. While still living in Germany, news about Myanmar was rare, and I only stumbled upon it if I actively searched for it. It might not be much different here in Korea unless I had met incredible inspiring students from Myanmar. Young men and women from the country learn Korean to attend university here, to build a different future for themselves away from their family and friends and outside the claws of the military junta. Having heard their stories and listened to their hopes and dreams, it is distressing to hear such news - repeatedly restricting the freedom of the population and making young people fear for their own future to supposedly secure the future of their country, being led by someone they oppose.
By pursuing their education here in Korea, they are fighting the norms and demands of the military government at home. But it’s not just them who can fight against the junta and support the resistance in Myanmar – we can do so as well. There are many ways to offer support, such as creating fundraising projects or supporting already existing ones. There are already several humanitarian aid projects such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Save the Children or Doctors without Borders that are in need of donations. Also, independent news outlets such as Myanmar Now, reporting independently and first-hand, need the public support to continue their work. If not financially, we can help with our actions. Supporting social media campaigns, spreading awareness, and showing interest and kindness to fellow people from Myanmar in our daily lives is free and something we all can do to help them and to keep fighting – together!
Written by Anna Hahn, an exchange student from Germany at Jeonbuk National University.
She is currently doing an internship at the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies.
During her internship, she will share her thoughts on news and reports on Southeast Asia seen from a European perspective.
Sources:
English:
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar-Crisis/Myanmar-military-exempts-women-from-draft-for-now#
https://seoul.diplo.de/kr-de/service/-/1693990#content_0
German (history of the german army):
https://www.planet-wissen.de/geschichte/deutsche_geschichte/die_geschichte_der_bundeswehr/index.html
Humanitarian Aid Projects:
https://www.businessinsider.com/ways-help-anti-coup-protesters-myanmar-right-now-2021-4
https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/asia
https://www.rescue.org/kr/country/myanmar