BBC Darren Conway Bago/Karen State – A BBC report reveals how Myanmar’s military is regaining territory by forcing thousands of young men into its ranks, tipping the balance in the country’s brutal civil war. The article describes four conscripts, aged 19 to 25, who were seized off the streets for minor infractions – one after leaving work, another after karaoke, a third while employed in forestry, and a fourth framed with drugs. All were pushed through basic training and sent directly to the front lines. They later escaped and joined the People’s Defence Force (PDF), saying they are treated “like brothers, not strangers”. Since enforcing a conscription law in 2024, the junta has replenished its depleted forces with unwilling recruits. Rebel commanders admit this influx of manpower has shifted the battlefield. “Forced conscription became the main challenging factor for us,” PDF battalion leader Ko Kaung told the BBC, noting that rebels lack funds, weapons and new recruits. The military, which seized power in 2021, now controls less than half the country but is advancing in key areas, retaking strategic roads and pressing into border states such as Kachin, Chin and Karen. Backed by drones, artillery and air power – bolstered by a security pact with Russia – the junta has forced rebels onto the defensive. China has also brokered ceasefires with some groups while limiting arms supplies to resistance forces. The BBC report highlights the human toll: rebel fighters injured by landmines, shortages of medical supplies in jungle hospitals, and families displaced by air strikes. Yet determination remains strong. One wounded commander, Kyar Soe, vowed to return to battle despite losing part of his leg. In a field hospital, a young couple welcomed a baby girl, naming her Sue Paye – “fulfilled wish” – and expressing hope she will one day grow up in a free, democratic Myanmar. -2026-06-10
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