Hundreds of youths recruited by local militia in Shan State
Posted on July 22, 2009
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Over 200 youths from rural areas of Burma’s Shan State have been recruited by local militia for the Burmese army in the last month.
The Shan Herald Agency for News reports that villagers in areas under the control of the Wanpang militia have been told that one member must enlist for military service.
In order to escape the draft, households must pay at least Kyat 300,000 (US$273) per person. But, a local source says few can afford to pay.
To avoid recruitment, many villagers have fled to towns or else gone to monasteries as monks. However, some were followed and forcibly disrobed.
A local source says the army is planning on sending the recruits to the south to fight the Shan State Army (SSA) South.
The army used similar tactics in its recent offensive against the Karen National Union, by getting the DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) to lead the fighting against the KNU.
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