Irrawaddy-Sept 5
The Myanmar junta started organizing ward-level militias in the commercial hub of Yangon in late August as its losses to resistance groups elsewhere in the country mount. The militias target the grassroots in community wards, according to residents in different townships. In Thingangyun, North Dagon, Hlaing Thar Yar, Shwepyithar, Twante, Dala and other townships, ward administrators are luring mostly older trishaw drivers to join so-called People’s Security and Anti-Terrorism Groups. In mid-August, the junta formed a committee to train, arm and supply militias at the village and ward levels nationwide. The announcement was signed by junta secretary General Aung Lin Dwe. Its formation came two weeks after the fall of Northeastern Command in northern Shan State and six months after the regime introduced mandatory military service of two years for all men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27. But for these newly formed militia groups, mainly older people are being drafted, though some are as young as 27, The Irrawaddy has found. In Yangon’s Thingangyun Township, motorized trishaw drivers were leaned on by their ward administrators to join their People’s Security Groups with the incentive of buying fuel at any gas station. U Min, a 54-year-old trishaw driver in Thingangyun, registered to become a member of the People’s Security group in his ward on Aug. 27. “With this card I can now buy the gasoline I need to fill my motorcycle every day, and if the police or traffic police stop me on the road they can’t arrest me for driving an illegal trishaw,” he added. U Min and other card holders understand that this means that they should be given access to training or arms. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-lures-trishaw-drivers-into-militias-with-incentives.html
