THOUSANDS in Myanmar tried to leave the country after the junta introduced a military conscription law that would require all men to serve in the military for at least two years.
Myanmar enforced the military conscription law as it struggled to contain a series of crushing defeats from ethnic rebel groups.
The measure sent thousands of young people lining up for visas outside foreign embassies in Yangon while others fled to neighboring Thailand to escape the law.
The labor ministry said it temporarily suspended accepting applications for men who want to work overseas which went into effect on May 2.
Only women registered as migrant workers can leave the country as of May 1.
Myanmar attempted to enforce the military service law in 2010 but was never brought into force. The measure allows the military to summon all men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 to serve for at least two years.
Fighting between Myanmar’s junta and the rebel groups escalated since a military coup toppled the previous government in February 2021.
