Burmese Army Recruitment -- USAGM
Metadata
- Burmese Army Recruitment -- USAGM
- July 22, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English BURMESE ARMY RECRUITMENT HEAD: Burmese Army Force Ethnic Men to Enlist as Troop Casualties Rise TEASER: Nationwide, young men are fleeing their homes, and country, rather than serve under the junta PUBLISHED AT: Tuesday, 07/22/2022 at 9:55am BYLINE: Steve Sandford DATELINE: CHIANG MAI, THAILAND CAMERA: Steve Sandford VIDEO EDITOR: Steve Sandford VIDEO FROM: VOA original EDITORS: Steve Hirsch, Salem Solomon PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __ TRT: 2:10 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: For final review and questions, email Steve Sandford at: stevesandford1@gmail.com)) ((INTRO)) [[Myanmar’s military regime is struggling to find new recruits after facing heavy casualties in the first year since the coup. Nationwide, young men are fleeing their homes, and country, rather than serve under a junta renowned for its “scorched earth” campaign against the civilian population. For VOA, Steve Sandford spoke to families affected by this push for “unofficial conscription” by the Burmese junta.]] ((NARRATOR)) Traditional Shan music in a Burmese temple in Thailand is a reminder of the Myanmar migrants who have fled their homeland in past. This year’s tone was more subdued, though, as the fighting in Myanmar has heated up, and now the junta has a new target in sight. ((Nang Horm, Shan Mother (in Thai))) “If someone had a son in their house, he would have to become a soldier, [it] doesn’t matter if you have more than one, all of them will have to become soldiers. But if you won’t allow it, you’ll have to pay them money and give them free rice.” ((Courtesy: Free Burma Rangers)) ((NARRATOR)) In the past 18 months, since the coup, the Burmese army has faced increased resistance and casualties from the opposition people’s defense forces. Many pro-junta militia groups are forcing male villagers under 45, to enlist or face heavy fines of up to $1,000 and to donate rice. Those actions have added to a difficult harvest season, for farmers already affected by labor shortages connected to the conflict. ((Saengmuang Mangkorn, Migrant Assistance Program (in Thai))) “People are scared that they’ll be forced to join the army and the war that’s been going on. All of these issues have affected the farmers, and ultimately forces them to leave their home.” ((Courtesy: Asiareports)) ((NARRATOR)) Despite a drop in exiles being accepted for resettlement, many are still crossing the border rather than serve under the junta. Online images, showing the atrocities committed by the army, seen as a tool to instill fear, have only added to the outrage of the civilians toward the junta. ((“Alex”, Sagaing Exile (in Burmese))) “We sometimes hear the news that the Burmese soldiers are coming to kidnap people and force them to be the soldiers. All the boys in our village are gone, they all left.” ((NARRATOR)) With estimates earlier this year, of more than 16,000 Burmese security officers who have already defected, there are traces of hope. ((Nang Horm, Shan Mother (in Thai))) “I pray for all the families to be happy and pray that my country will come back to normal and become peaceful again like the other countries.” ((Steve Sandford, for VOA News, Chiang Mai, Thailand))
- Transcript/Script BURMESE ARMY RECRUITMENT HEAD: Burmese Army Force Ethnic Men to Enlist as Troop Casualties Rise TEASER: Nationwide, young men are fleeing their homes, and country, rather than serve under the junta PUBLISHED AT: Tuesday, 07/22/2022 at 9:55am BYLINE: Steve Sandford DATELINE: CHIANG MAI, THAILAND CAMERA: Steve Sandford VIDEO EDITOR: Steve Sandford VIDEO FROM: VOA original EDITORS: Steve Hirsch, Salem Solomon PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __ TRT: 2:10 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: For final review and questions, email Steve Sandford at: stevesandford1@gmail.com)) ((INTRO)) [[Myanmar’s military regime is struggling to find new recruits after facing heavy casualties in the first year since the coup. Nationwide, young men are fleeing their homes, and country, rather than serve under a junta renowned for its “scorched earth” campaign against the civilian population. For VOA, Steve Sandford spoke to families affected by this push for “unofficial conscription” by the Burmese junta.]] ((NARRATOR)) Traditional Shan music in a Burmese temple in Thailand is a reminder of the Myanmar migrants who have fled their homeland in past. This year’s tone was more subdued, though, as the fighting in Myanmar has heated up, and now the junta has a new target in sight. ((Nang Horm, Shan Mother (in Thai))) “If someone had a son in their house, he would have to become a soldier, [it] doesn’t matter if you have more than one, all of them will have to become soldiers. But if you won’t allow it, you’ll have to pay them money and give them free rice.” ((Courtesy: Free Burma Rangers)) ((NARRATOR)) In the past 18 months, since the coup, the Burmese army has faced increased resistance and casualties from the opposition people’s defense forces. Many pro-junta militia groups are forcing male villagers under 45, to enlist or face heavy fines of up to $1,000 and to donate rice. Those actions have added to a difficult harvest season, for farmers already affected by labor shortages connected to the conflict. ((Saengmuang Mangkorn, Migrant Assistance Program (in Thai))) “People are scared that they’ll be forced to join the army and the war that’s been going on. All of these issues have affected the farmers, and ultimately forces them to leave their home.” ((Courtesy: Asiareports)) ((NARRATOR)) Despite a drop in exiles being accepted for resettlement, many are still crossing the border rather than serve under the junta. Online images, showing the atrocities committed by the army, seen as a tool to instill fear, have only added to the outrage of the civilians toward the junta. ((“Alex”, Sagaing Exile (in Burmese))) “We sometimes hear the news that the Burmese soldiers are coming to kidnap people and force them to be the soldiers. All the boys in our village are gone, they all left.” ((NARRATOR)) With estimates earlier this year, of more than 16,000 Burmese security officers who have already defected, there are traces of hope. ((Nang Horm, Shan Mother (in Thai))) “I pray for all the families to be happy and pray that my country will come back to normal and become peaceful again like the other countries.” ((Steve Sandford, for VOA News, Chiang Mai, Thailand))
- NewsML Media Topics Conflict, War and Peace, Politics
- Topic Tags Army Burmese
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date July 22, 2022 15:24 EDT
- Description English Myanmar’s military regime is struggling to find new recruits after facing heavy casualties in the first year since the coup. Nationwide, young men are fleeing their homes, and country, rather than serve under a junta renowned for its “scorched earth” campaign against the civilian population. For VOA, Steve Sandford spoke to families affected by this push for “unofficial conscription” by the Burmese junta.
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English