MYANMAR Regime Planning to Issue Weapons to Approved Civilians

Irrawaddy-Feb 11

Myanmar’s junta is planning to issue arms and ammunition to civilians who agree to participate in local security and law enforcement in their states and regions. The move comes almost two years after the Myanmar military’s coup and at a time when the regime is facing ever-growing resistance nationwide from People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations. Under the new policy, citizens over the age of 18 will be issued licenses allowing them to hold five different types of weapons including pistols and hunting rifles. Pro-junta militias and security organizations will be allowed to hold pistols, rifles and automatic weapons with permits issued by the regime’s home affairs ministry. Junta soldiers provide firearms training for pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia members in Sagaing Region in February 2022. The fact that civilians will only be issued the weapons licenses if they agree to participate in junta-led law enforcement and security means that the arms and licenses are likely to be given only to regime supporters and retired military personnel. As resistance to the regime grows across the country, there has been a sharp increase in the number of assassinations of pro-junta militia members, regime informants and former military personnel. Anti-regime activists have denounced the new policy. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-regime-planning-to-issue-weapons-to-approved-civilians.html