The Eastern Military Command issued a statement on 13 May, restricting members of Pa-O National Organization/Pa-O National Army (PNO/PNA) from entering the town and carrying weapons.
On the night of 2 May, the PNO militia shot and killed a police near Taunggyi Myoma Market Taunggyi after refusing to comply with a police inspection.
Additionally, on 28 April, PNO militiamen disrupted civilian in front of a fuel station in Heho, slapping people and extorting money.
Due to these issues, the Eastern Military Command has prohibited the PNO from carrying weapons or wearing uniforms into the town outside of duty hours.
The statement also warns that any weapons carried without authorization will be confiscated, and instructs that troop members must undergo military inspections calmly.
PNO General Secretary Phyar Khun Thein Pe said, “The military command’s release of the statement is considered routine. We must follow the order released by the military council. It is in conformity with the law. This is essentially about addressing the lack of discipline on the ground. It has no significant impacts. Regardless of which government is in power, we will continue to operate in accordance with the law.”
The statement further instructs that the PNO should not establish unnecessary checkpoints in villages or collect money from the public, and emphasizes that the PNO/PNA must comply with the orders of the Command.
A young Pa-O man stated that the PNO militia frequently engages in extortion and killings in rural villages using arms, and that the military council should take control of this situation.
The PNO is killing people in the villages with the support of the Burmese military.
They are also roaming the villages with weapons, firing guns, and collecting various taxes. All of this is being carried out under the guise of the military’s authority.
The PNO is acting under the image of the military junta, and therefore, the military council should control the PNO, he said.
The PNO militia is mainly active in Taunggyi, Hopong, Hsihseng, Pinlaung, and Inle, and is conducting offensive operations in Inle Lake and Sankar areas in collaboration with the military council.
Sent by Shan News