As the military junta's remaining 12 battalions arestationed in five cities of southern Rakhine State, they are planning torecruit locals as militiamen to resist the Arakan Army (AA) in need, said localresidents.

In the southern Rakhine townships like Taungup,Thandwe, Gwa, Ann and Kyaukphyu, there are only 10 light infantry battalionsunder 15th military operations command (MOC-15) and two infantry battalionsunder western command.

These battalions include 346th light infantry battalion and 544th lightinfantry battalion in Taungup,  371st light infantry battalion, 372ndlight infantry battalion and 373rd light infantry battalion in Ann, 542nd lightinfantry battalion, 543rd light infantry battalion and 34th infantry battalionin Kyaukphyu, 562nd light infantry battalion, 563rd light infantry battalionand 566th light infantry battalion in Gwa, and 55th infantry battalion inThandwe locality.

A military researcher pointed out that with about 100soldiers in each battalion the total estimated strength will be around 1,200.Considering other forces  including the police the cumulative strengthwill be around 2,000.

"Youths are being recruited into the military service from every villageunder  Thandwe township. An announcement was made last night that all menin  Kyaung Kone village-tract of Shwe Hlay area will have to attend anorganised meet,” revealed a resident.

The junta also asked all men in the village-tract togather at Kyaung Kone school along with their registration cards.

"The villagers are now worried. They are mostly  farmers andfishermen. They are reluctant to participate in the meeting as they may becompelled to undergo military training, but they have little choices,"added the resident.

The AA fighters have already seized control overPauktaw, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya and Myebon townships in northern RakhineState. Paletwa to the India-Bangladesh border areas are also under theircontrol. Meanwhile, military tensions are escalating in Kyaukphyu, Ann and Sittwe townships.

In addition to the 550th light infantry battalionstationed in Ponnagyun, the AA fighters are actively seeking to seize controlover the military bases in Maungdaw, Rathedaung and Ramree townships.

Many villagers from  Thandwe locality have been recruited in the militaryservice. On 27 February, many youths from Za Lun, Yae Phyu Aing, Mel Nel Kwin,Gone Za Yat and Maday villages were selected for military training.

On that day, two leaders from the USDP along with thevillage administrator asked the villagers to gather for a meeting and laterconducted a lottery to select individuals for military services, said aresident of Za Lun village.

"They instructed at least one man from each household to attend themeeting. After the lottery in the meeting, they selected  20 individualsfor a 12-day military training,” added the resident.

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