Myanmar junta plans to implement mandatory military service in April, media say

The Southeast Asian country has been in turmoil since the military seized power from an elected government in a 2021 coup and plans by the junta to call up more people to fight point to the military being under growing pressure. Last Saturday, Myanmar's junta declared a law governing mandatory military service would be enforced for men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 for up to two years. "We are working to implement the conscription after the new year holiday in April," junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told BBC Burmese, referring to Myanmar's most important holiday, known as Thingyan.