State Administration Council Information Team Leader Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun’s Clarifications on People’s Military Service Law

 The State Administration Council (SAC) issued an announcement that set the date for the People’s Military Service Law to come into force, which is 10 February 2024. With regard to this, State Administration Council Information Team Leader Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun made the following clarifications on People’s Military Service Law;

• The People’s Military Service Law had been enacted in Myanmar since 1959. It was amended and enacted as Law No 27/2010 of the State Peace and Development Council in 2010.
• There are eight chapters in People’s Military Service Law. In Chapter (I), time and duration of military service and the age for everyone who is eligible for military service. If a male, any citizen from the age of 18 to 35 and if a female, any citizen from the age of 18 to 27, if he is an expert [professional occupation] male, a citizen from the age of 18 to 45, if she is an expert female, a citizen from the age of 18 to 35, are responsible for undergoing military service. The duration of military service is set for 24 months (2 years) and 36 months (3 years) for technicians.
• The law has been enacted for every citizen in order to undergo military training and to serve in the armed forces for the defence of the State as every citizen is under a duty to safeguard Our Three Main National Causes.
• The Constitution (2008) prescribes in Section 20 (d) that “The Defence Services has the right to administer for participation of the entire people in Union security and defence”. It also prescribes in Section 339 that “The Defence Services shall lead in safeguarding the Union against all internal and external dangers”. In Section 340, it is prescribed that “With the approval of the National Defence and Security Council, the Defence Services has the authority to administer the participation of the entire people in the Security and Defence of the Union. The strategy of the people’s militia shall be carried out under the leadership of the Defence Services”.
• People’s Military Service Law was enacted with Law No (27/2010) in November 2010. During the same day, Reserve Forces Law was also enacted with Law No (28/2010).
• There are 18 countries with mandatory military service. Undergoing military service is being activated under various provisions and laws as every citizen has the duty to safeguard national defence and national security.
• Military service had been undergone in Myanmar since the past. Since British colonial era and Japanese era, people were dispatched to undergo military service by town if they were summoned for military service.
• Myanmar is carrying out the strategy of the people’s militia. The Tatmadaw carried out capability of mobilization and capability of carrying out the strategy of the people’s militia during Kuomintang intrusion into Myanmar and intense internal armed uprising.
• As today’s situation calls for Myanmar to carry out the strategy of people’s militia necessarily, Myanmar commences carrying out such kind of military service.
• The nature of the strategy of people’s militia is the connection between the active armed forces and the people. The People’s Military Service Law will cement the connection between the active armed forces and the people.
• The enactment of People’s Military Service Law will gain the more deterrence power. Since the active armed forces will not be established as the largest and strongest one but the public defence system will be established, the state’s defence establishment and economic establishment will also be balanced.
• It is witnessed that subversive media outlets and terrorist organizations are putting pessimism on People’s Military Service Law; striking terror into the public; and doing acts to ruin nationalism and patriotism.
• The main fundamental need for the state’s development is peace as well as stability. To ensure this, it is required to secure people’s lives and have strong defence power. There will be no peace and stability in a country unless it has strong security power and defence power.
• In most less-developed countries, there is a limit for armed forces and armed groups to use high-technology weapons and full military equipment. This situation calls for defence system which includes national forces to defend the nation.
• Only National Service system is the sole mean for all national forces to participate in this defence system.
• Doing such acts is to defend genuine disciplined democratic system that the people aspire to. The basic foundation first is to hold dignified general elections.
• To hold general elections needs peace and stability. Every citizen has to participate in building peace as well as stability.
• Under the current situation, it is obvious that PDF terrorists and other insurgents/terrorists wish to exercise the practices of warlord and the practices of ruling rivalry or independently in an area no matter how they make pious sounding noises.
• Every citizen who has nationalism and patriotism are enthusiastically calling for organizing militia units and local defence units in order to enjoy and safeguard the right to democracy.

Accordingly, the State Administration Council (SAC) announced to come into force on the People’s Military Service Law enacted, which is more constitutional and systematic than militia units and local defence units, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

Source: Myawady Daily Newspaper (12-2-2024)

• The State Administration Council (SAC) issued an announcement that set the date for the People’s Military Service Law to come into force, which is 10 February 2024.
• If a male, any citizen from the age of 18 to 35 and if a female, any citizen from the age of 18 to 27, if he is an expert [professional occupation] male, a citizen from the age of 18 to 45, if she is an expert female, a citizen from the age of 18 to 35, are responsible for undergoing military service. The duration of military service is set for 24 months (2 years) and 36 months (3 years) for professionals.
• The law has been enacted for every citizen in order to undergo military training and to serve in the armed forces for the defence of the State as every citizen is under a duty to safeguard Our Three Main National Causes.
• People’s Military Service Law was enacted with Law No (27/2010) in November 2010. During the same day, Reserve Forces Law was also enacted with Law No (28/2010).
• As today’s situation calls for Myanmar to carry out the strategy of people’s militia necessarily, Myanmar commences carrying out such kind of military service.
• The nature of the strategy of people’s militia is the connection between the active armed forces and the people. The People’s Military Service Law will cement the connection between the active armed forces and the people.
• The enactment of People’s Military Service Law will gain the more deterrence power. Since the active armed forces will not be established as the largest and strongest one but the public defence system will be established, the state’s defence establishment and economic establishment will also be balanced.
• It is witnessed that subversive media outlets and terrorist organizations are putting pessimism on People’s Military Service Law; striking terror into the public; and doing acts to ruin nationalism and patriotism.
• In most less-developed countries, there is a limit for armed forces and armed groups to use high-technology weapons and full military equipment. This situation calls for defence system which includes national forces to defend the nation.
• To hold general elections needs peace and stability. Every citizen has to participate in building peace as well as stability.
• Under the current situation, it is obvious that PDF terrorists and other insurgents/terrorists wish to exercise the practices of warlord and the practices of ruling rivalry or independently in an area no matter how they make pious sounding noises.