An interview with a local who documents human rights violations in the Kanbalu area regarding the situation of forced recruitment by the U Wah Thawa-led militia in Kanbalu Township
In Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region, the junta-armed militia group led by U Wah Thawa, known as “550 Sayadaw”, is recruiting local men, women and children for military service.
Shanni Voice conducted this interview with a local man who documents the human rights violations associated with forced recruitment by the U Wah Thawa-led militia in Kanbalu Township.
Q: How does the Kanbalu militia group recruit new members?
A: It is the militia group led by U Wah Thawa that is recruiting new members. He is better known as “550 Sayadaw” among the pro-junta supporters. It is his militiamen who go around rounding up people. Soldiers and police officers are also involved. They have been doing this since early May, so they might have arrested around a hundred people by now.
They are arresting people along the Mu River in Htan Kone Station. They are arresting men, women and even children. But they have released about half of them. So there are about 50 people still detained. This recruitment is for the third batch of military service.
Q: Have the locals tried to escape since the arrests began in May?
A: Of course. Some were caught while trying to escape, while others were arrested when the militia entered their villages. Now they are not conducting raids; they are looking for people they can recruit.
The junta-affiliated group has over 150 members. They have abducted many men and women from Than Ti, Moe Kyoe, Oke Hpo and Ohn Taw villages. They have arrested 40 or 50 of them. Those who managed to hide were able to escape. Some fled to areas controlled by the PDF. They are from the villages of Yaw, Lel Hla, Su Poke Kone and Min Kone.
Q: How many locals are hiding for fear of being recruited?
A: Residents from nine or ten villages, including Yaw, Lel Hla, Su Poke Kone and Min Kone, have fled. There are probably about 10,000 locals in hiding.
At first, only about 3,000 or 4,000 people fled. Later, more and more people fled. Young people went into hiding from the beginning because they were afraid of being called up. So most of those arrested are middle-aged people.
Q: Do you know where they take the arrested people?
A: The arrested people are taken to Htan Kone (Model Village) where the U Wah Thawa-led militia and the Pyu Saw Htee groups are based. We have heard that those arrested there are being asked to join the militia. They started calling it “military service” after the locals refused to join.
These villages where people are arrested are neutral villages that don’t support either side. They don’t support the military, Wah Thawa or the PDF. U Wah Thawa once tried to convince these villages to form a people’s militia or join the Pyu Saw Htee, but the villagers refused.
Q: Is it true that the junta is also destroying the houses of villagers who have fled?
A: That is true. After about 3,000 residents of villages such as Chauk Sauk, Thin Pan Taw, San Da Yar, Ta Paung, Shwe Paw Kone, Hnget Pyaw Taw and Kyauk Aing fled their homes, the junta destroyed about 30 of their houses and sold the materials. Some of the houses even became uninhabitable.
Q: Were there clashes between the junta’s troops and the local defense forces because of these arrests?
A: So far there have been no such clashes. In the Kanbalu area, Wah Thawa’s group is very strong. It has been recruiting people for a long time and is therefore growing. Most of the locals here are neutral. That’s why the Wah Thawa group continues to grow.
Just recently they conducted a training for a “People’s Militia Commando Unit”. So, if the resistance side wants to do something, they have to be very careful. They have to take time. Otherwise, the other side might find out at any time, so they have to be extremely careful.
Sent by Shanni Voice.