August 12th, 2022
The military council has forced residents of Hsihseng Township in southern Shan State to pay for meals for participants in Pyu Saw Htee militia training in addition to the initial 150,000 MMK, according to the village administrators.
Each village in the township was forced to send two people to the military training led by the military council and had to provide only 300,000 MMK for two people – 150,000 MMK for each – for the first and second time, it was reported.
However, for a third person in August, they demanded not only money but also food for the month, which is a big burden for the small villages, said a resident of Loiput in Hsihseng Township.
“In big villages, each household has to pay a small amount. But small villages cannot keep raising this amount of MMK 10,000,” said the villager.
Villages in Hsihseng, Hsaikhkawng and Banyin townships are in Pa-O self-administered zone and two people per village have been requested for Pyu Saw Htee military training.
However, since most people are not willing to participate in the training, some residents even hire a second person for 150,000 MMK on their behalf.
In Hsihseng commune, there are six wards and 13 village tracts. Each ward has to send two people to the junta-run Pyu Saw Htwee training every month, according to residents.
The month-long training, conducted by the military council, reportedly includes basic military training, small arms assembly and disassembly, and military parades.
However, Military Council spokesman General Zaw Min Tun has repeatedly stated in press conferences that no such group as Pyu Saw Htee has been formed, only local public security groups.
Sent b NMG