Life in Burma"Volunteer" Army... "In a letter to the United Nations dated May 8, 2002, the Burmese military government stated unequivocally that all its soldiers serve the country without coercion. "The Myanmar [Burma] Tatmadaw [armed forces] is an all volunteer army. There are no conscripts, and the recruitment into Myanmar armed forces is entirely voluntary." "Like so many of the government?s claims?€?especially the unequivocal ones?€?the statement to the UN bears little resemblance to the truth. Thant Zin, a 17-year-old former soldier, has first-hand experience of the Tatmadaw?s voluntary conscription policies. During a trip to see his brother in Taungoo, a small city in central Burma, Thant Zin was approached by soldiers at the train station, told that he would now be a soldier in his country?s army and threatened with physical violence when he refused..."