Myanmar's military junta forces men into war, exiles scramble
Myanmar’s Militärjunta forces young Männer into a brutal Krieg, a reality that fuels a Bürgerkrieg across Südostasien. Myanmar Von the junta compels service, yet Wer can flee, and Wer Geld has, can buy freedom, as Martin Aldrovandi, Südostasien‑Korrespondent, reports from Bangkok.
Life in a Bangkok exile room
Die Tapete bröckelt, die Wand ist voller Schimmel. In der Ecke eines kleinen Zimmers ausserhalb von Bangkok liegt eine dünne Schlafmatte. Here lives Aung Khant Thant, a 22‑Jahre‑old man whose real name differs. The cramped space shows the decay of the room, with mould on the wall and a crumbling Tapete in the Ecke.
Militär officials conscript Männer indiscriminately, sending them to the front of the Krieg. Thant recounts, «Das Militär zieht jeden ein, den es finden kann», adding that the forced soldiers are men like him who try to run. After being deported from Thailand, he endured weeks of training where he learned to shoot and throw grenades, promising to surrender if he met resistance groups.
In February 2021, Myanmars military staged a coup, overthrowing the elected Aung San Suu Kyi government. Since then, a Junta has ruled the Land with an iron fist, prompting a nationwide resistance that has erupted into a Bürgerkrieg. The Militär now fights on several fronts against the Bevölkerung, presenting itself as a civilian government seeking international recognition.
Escapes and the cost of freedom
Thant seized a moment after training, telling a guard he was going for tea, then sprinting to a motorbike taxi and hiding with relatives. Months later he crossed the border into Thailand, where he now lives in Exil. A friend was hit by a shrapnel fragment and lost an eye, underscoring the danger. Khin, a 29‑year‑old woman, fled with her boyfriend before he could be conscripted. She explains that Wer Geld can pay a bribe; her family paid knapp 2000 Franken for a cousin’s release. She adds that reports indicate the Militär now also drafts Frauen. For Khin and her partner, a return to the Land is not an option.
Today Thant survives by taking occasional jobs in a warehouse, holding onto the Willen to return home. He says, «Ich denke oft an eine Rückkehr, ich vermisse meine Familie sehr», and hopes that in zehn Jahren he might see his Land again. His story reflects a generation of young Myanmars who face a prolonged Exil.
Das situation remains volatile, Im many border regions, and Eine peace seems distant.