The Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) has reportedly threatened and abducted people at gunpoint in Namaum village, Muse Township, northern Shan State.
According to residents of Muse, the ethnic army soldiers fired shots and abducted four residents of Namaum and Kawngwein villages on 5 June.
“They took away people from Namaum and Kawngwein villages yesterday. They arrested four people. During the arrest, they fired shots. Today they came again. They fired shots when they entered the villages,” said a local from Muse.
According to reports, members of the SSPP/SSA also entered Tinglong village and fired shots as they entered the village. However, the number of people they recruited from the village was not known.
In addition, locals reported that the SSPP/SSA issued orders for Muse and Namhkan Townships to provide two people for every ten households.
“They informed our village that they would come and pick up recruits today. They told us that they would give us five days. They are asking for two people per ten households. So a village with 100 households has to give 20 people. They said that after the one-month military training, the recruits will be allowed to return home for one month, but the recruits will have to stay in the military forever,” said a resident of Muse.
Recruitment by the ethnic army has reportedly forced residents of villages in Muse and Namhkam townships to flee to safer places.
“Some Namaum villagers have taken refuge in downtown Muse. The news raised alarm and made people flee. They said they would come and collect new recruits in Muse, Namhkam and Pang Hseng. The residents then started moving to safer places,” said a man who visited Namaum village.
In addition, reports have surfaced that the SSPP/SSA is on the lookout for new recruits in Namlan town.
Also in downtown Namhkam, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) is not only looking for new recruits but also collecting taxes, according to local residents.
Sent by Shan Herald.