21 May 2026 – The State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) military junta has dramatically intensified forced recruitment operations in Kalay town, Sagaing Region, with patrols comprising soldiers, police, and pro-junta Pyusawhti militia members detaining young men across the area for immediate military service.
The large-scale detentions began around 11:00 am on 21 May in prominent locations, including in front of the Min Gyi Hotel on Bogyoke Road. Local monitoring group Voice of Kalay warned residents to urgently avoid the area.
Residents report that arrests have become increasingly severe in recent days, a tactic attributed to authorities striving to meet military recruitment quotas.
Sagaing is a major flashpoint for resistance against the military junta, and Kalay is a strategic logistical base. The SSPC—the junta’s restructured governing body since 2025—has stepped up efforts to replenish depleted ranks since the introduction of the People’s Military Service Law in February 2024.
Arbitrary arrests for conscription have been a common occurrence in Kalay and other parts of Sagaing Region for months.
In a significant escalation of pressure, detainees can no longer secure release solely through payment. Residents claim that freedom now requires providing a replacement person to serve in the military.
Those detained are typically transferred first to the township administrative compound before being moved to the No. 10 Advanced Military Training School near Sakhan Gyi village. Some conscripts have also been reportedly transported to other regions using SSPC military aircraft.
Amid the escalating security crisis, the Kalay Public Strike Leading Committee previously warned residents to take extra security precautions.
The intensified conscription drive has contributed to widespread fear, internal displacement, and outward migration among young people across Myanmar. – Reporting by Daniel
