PMF Forces Civilians to Join Military Training in Taunggyi Township
By Network Media Group
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The Pa-O People’s Militia Force (PMF), formerly known as the Pa-O National Army, has summoned civilians to attend military training in southern Shan State.
Men aged between 18 and 35 from Nam See Nawng Lay village in Taunggyi Township have already been compelled to join the training sessions by the PMF, which is fighting alongside the military regime.
One man who was forced to attend said they don’t have to hold a gun during training.
“Pa-O PMF officers told us that they worked hard for Pa-O ethnic people and we need to attend military training to defend ourselves if some people invade our territory.”
Although the armed group hadn’t determined how many people it plans to train at this time, the man said whoever is eligible must take part in it. He said those who completed their training will provide security in villagers and not sent to the frontline.
“The Pa-O PMF pressured the village headmen who have to organize the sessions even though they do want to do it,” a middle-aged woman from Nam See Nawng Lay explained. She said local leaders are being pressured by both the Burma army and opposition groups opposed to the forced national conscription scheme that was recently introduced by the regime. But they’re not allowed to resign.
Locals close to the PMF said villagers near Htan San were forced to pay some expenses for their training.
According to other reports from locals from Nam See Nawng Lay, each family household was asked to dish out 30,000 kyat for training that started seven months ago. However, after the headman asked the fee to be reduced, it was lowered to 10,000 a house.
