Junta seeks population list from Ann to create a militia

 Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 1 September  2024

The military junta in Ann town, where the western command is based, is asking for a population list from the nearby rural areas, seemingly to form a militia for use as a reserve unit.

Since late August, the junta soldiers from the western command and office of the chief of military security affairs, known as Sa-Ya-Pha, have been demanding this list from the administrators of Ann North, Ah Nauk Auk, Ann South village-tracts along with several urban wards.

A local man familiar with the village-tracts told Narinjara News that each village-tract has been asked to provide at least 15 men to form the militia.

“Fifteen men were chosen through a lottery from each village-tract. The soldiers from Sa-Ya-Pha and western command stated they are following the order from higher officials. These trained men will be used as a reserve unit to face the Arakan Army (AA) fighters in need,” he added.

A military source informed Narinjara News that those recruited will receive a short military training program at the western command. Later they will be given responsibility to protect their own villages.

The current recruitment policy will cover  the men with ages from 18 to 30 years.

Arakanese and Chin residents in Ann expressed fear and insecurity due to the junta's recent recruitment initiatives. The junta enacted and implemented the conscription laws in February this year.

Moreover, the public security and anti-terrorism central supervisory teams were formed on 16 August to provide one month military training and equip those men (aged 35 to 65) with weapons at the ward & village level.

Photograph: Junta soldiers provide military training to militiamen. (Photo-CINCDS)