Border News Agency
Mrauk-U, September 11.
Family members are calling for the release and return to their parents of Chakma youths who were allegedly recruited for military service despite being under the age of 18 in Inshwe Village, Laymyo Chaung area, Mrauk-U Township, an area controlled by the Arakan Army (AA), on September 2.
Villagers said a total of 36 people, including nine youths under the age of 18 from Inshwe Village, were taken away for military service. Among them were reportedly people in poor health and others who were not eligible for military service.
“My son is only 16 years old. People under the age of 18 are not supposed to be recruited for military service. Therefore, we want those who are eligible for military service to be taken, while those who are not eligible should be returned to us, their parents,” a parent from Inshwe Village whose son was taken for military service told Border News Agency.
Family members said the following youths from Inshwe Village were taken by the Arakan Army for military service: 15-year-old Htun Aye Naing, 15-year-old Zaw Naing, 16-year-old U Htay Naing, 16-year-old Hla Maung Kyaw, 17-year-old Aye Aye Swe, 17-year-old Nu Aye Kyi, 17-year-old Phyu Ma Oo, 17-year-old Maung Hla, and 17-year-old Win Oo.
In areas controlled by the Arakan Army, the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government is implementing the National Defense Emergency Provision (NDEP).
Under the provision, men aged 18 to 45 and women aged 18 to 25 across all AA-controlled areas are being recruited for military service through a lottery system.
Political officers, area commanders, township commanders, and village administrators of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government are reportedly leading the lottery process to select people for military service.
The Arakan Army announced on May 22 last year that the National Defense Emergency Provision had been enacted on March 18, 2025.
Although the provision sets specific age limits, family members said that, in practice, school students and members of Indigenous ethnic minorities under the age of 18 are also being recruited for military service. They said such practices could contribute to the disappearance of Indigenous minority communities and are causing Indigenous minority communities to lose trust in and acceptance of the Arakan Army.
Villagers said that, as a result, families of underage Indigenous and minority youths, including Chakma youths, are extremely concerned about their safety and health.
“My younger sister was among those taken. She is only a little over 16 years old. My mother cannot sleep or eat because of the worry. We are constantly worried about her,” another resident of Inshwe Village told Border News Agency.
In addition, local Khamti people in Buthidaung Township have also criticized the recruitment of members of the Khamti minority community, saying that people under the age of 18 are among those being taken for military service.
Family members have been calling for the release of Indigenous minority schoolchildren and other people under the age of 18—including Chakma, Mro, Daingnet, Khamti, and Chin people—in areas controlled by the Arakan Army. However, public criticism has been increasing because most of those recruited have reportedly not been released.
Families are therefore calling on the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government to return the nine underage youths from Inshwe Village, along with others who are not eligible for military service, to their parents.
Activists working on Indigenous minority issues said that Indigenous minority communities must be effectively protected under the law. They also said that neighboring countries and the international community should monitor and protect these communities, and should impose pressure and sanctions on relevant individuals and organizations where appropriate.
In addition, residents of Arakan have criticized the recruitment of young workers from some civil society organizations operating on the ground. They said that the lottery-based recruitment process has involved bias and unfairness and that, rather than following the provisions as stipulated, people are being forcibly detained, taken away, and made to serve in the military.
Human rights activists and military observers have argued that the forcible recruitment of people under the age of 18 may represent violations committed to urgently address manpower shortages, as military casualties have reportedly been high on the battlefield and airstrikes have resulted in significant numbers of deaths and injuries.
International human rights organizations have also warned that the Arakan Army is using child soldiers under the age of 15.
The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) has frequently issued statements and publicity claiming that some people under the age of 18 who came forward to serve in the military had been returned to their parents and families.
However, residents of Arakan continue to report that people under the age of 18 are still being forcibly recruited for military service on the ground.
Border News Agency has received evidence indicating that the Arakan Army has forcibly recruited children under the age of 18 for military service and used them as child soldiers.
The Arakan Army has captured and controls 15 townships, including the Paletwa area, and is establishing administrative mechanisms under the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government. It is also conducting offensive operations against Kyaukphyu and Sittwe.
