The State Administration Council (SAC) relies on a mix of brutal deterrence and tactical isolation. They don't trust new conscripts. To stop them from organizing, the junta keeps recruits in small, fragmented units, which prevents the social bonding necessary for a collective revolt. Loyalists, typically career soldiers from the Tatmadaw, keep constant watch over these newcomers.
Fear drives most of the compliance. The SAC utilizes public executions or harsh prison sentences for deserters to set a grim example. They also use familial leverage. If a conscript flees to the People's Defence Force (PDF), the military often arrests their parents or siblings. This creates a crushing psychological trap.
Conscripts are frequently thrown into high-risk frontline roles where they are more likely to die than to coordinate a coup. They lack the advanced weapons training or access to secure communication tools that would facilitate a mass mutiny. By treating soldiers as prisoners in uniform, the junta ensures that the only perceived path to safety is total obedience. This system transforms the army into a guarded prison, where the guards are just as feared as the enemy across the line.
