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NEWS - Elderly Men Pressganged To B
Subject: NEWS - Elderly Men Pressganged To Become Militia
SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS
21 October 1999
No: 10 - 23
Elderly Men Pressganged To Become Militia
Maihoong from southern Shan State reported that even elderly people were
not spared in the junta's drive to form militia units against the
resistance.
On 19 September Ltc. Yan Ba Maung, Commander of IB 518 (Mongnai) with
80-strong column, arrived in village of Narkhan (Narkhan Tract, Mongnai
Township) where he ordered his men to seize all able-bodied males. He
told
the assembled men that those between age 45-60 would be organized as
militia and those under 45 would become porters.
On examination, there were 42 of them between age 45-60, and 88 between
15-35, totalling 130, said Maihoong.
The commander was reported to have told Tarn Awn, the headman, that the
village had sent only 11-12 men to form a people's militia unit when the
required number was 50. "It had happened several times, so this time he
would make it right by forming the old people to become militia and the
young ones to serve as porters in the fight against Bo Mya's Karen
resistance further south, he said".
Only after the villagers collected K. 5,000 for each man, he agreed to
release everyone. Altogether K. 650,000 was paid on 27 September to the
commander, reported Maihoong.
///END\\\
For further information, please contact S.H.A.N. at:
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P.O. Box. 15, Nonghoi P.O., 50007, Chiangmai, Thailand
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