Pa’O National Army Begins Recruitment Drive In Pinlaung
By Network Media Group
Monday, October 17, 2022
The armed wing of the Pa’O National Organisation (PNO), the Pa’O National Army (PNA), has reportedly been preparing to forcibly recruiting new soldiers with the approval of the Burma Army (BA), from which it ultimately takes its orders.
Villagers reported that Maj Khun Joseph, the PNA commander for Pinlaung Township, summoned residents to a public meeting at a Buddhist monastery in Minn Thaung village in southern Shan State on 3 October to inform them of the recruitment in their area.
According to a 30-year-old man from there, who spoke to NMG on condition of anonymity, the armed group, which was transformed into a People’s Militia Force under the military regime, has already abducted people to fill its ranks in Hsihseng and Nyaung Shwe townships.
“They’ve already collected names in Pinlaung, but they haven’t started grabbing anyone yet,” he told NMG
Sources close to the group said the PNO’s central committee has instructed them to find 500 soldiers each from the following: Khun Phya Bua region (Taunggyi and Nyaung Shwe townships), Suriya region (Hopon and Hsihseng townships) and Sanda region (Pinlaung Township).
The source said that they mainly abduct people from Suria and Khun Phya Bua with the help of junta soldiers, and that the people who don’t want to become soldiers have to pay them money. PNA officials have reportedly ordered village leaders to draw up a list of drug addicts and those who’ve joined the Spring Revolution to protest against the military regime.
“They’re just as brutal as the BA!’ They’re arresting people under accusations of using drug charges and then sending them to a recruitment camp,” a Pa-O man from Hsihseng town who’s close to PNO officials told NMG on condition of anonymity. After that, they charge the family money to fund their rehabilitation, he said.
People suspect that the regime has ordered the group to increase its ranks so that it can help in offensives in Karenni State against resistance groups.
In the past, the PNO had the support of the people, but that’s now starting to wane after the forced recruitment drive and since PNA soldiers and BA soldiers have set up checkpoints at the entrance of the from Pa’O Self-Administered Zone to extort money from the people.
