NEWS - Elderly Men Pressganged To B

[TheTruth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

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:
Shan Herald Agency for News.
P.O. Box. 15, Nonghoi P.O., 50007, Chiangmai, Thailand
Ph/Fax: (053) 807 121
e-mail: < shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx>>

S.H.A.N. is a non-profit making, independent Shan media group. It is not 
affiliated to any political or armed organization.