Local sources report that military council forces have been coercing villagers into joining militia units and assigning them to guard duties in villages located between Nat Yay Kan and Padan towns in Ngape Township, Magway Region, amid rising concerns that the Arakha Army (AA) and resistance forces may enter the area.
The villages where the people’s militia forces have been formed include Sadaku, Sonekone, Myitphyar, Makyeekan, Tharyarkone, PyinWa, Zamyun, Shauktaung, Pyinkyi, Pazi, Setsi, and Gokegyi. These villages are located between Nat Yay Kan and Padan in Ngape Township.
A local resident from Padan reported that throughout April alone, the military council forcibly recruited at least 10 people from each village in the area to form a “people’s militia.”
These recruits have since been assigned to guard duties within their respective villages.
“Around 10 people are taken from each village. Then they’re assigned to guard duty in the villages. They’re mainly tasked with monitoring who comes in and out of the village,” said a local man from the Padan area. “It’s mainly led by Division 99,” he added.
The source further said that most of those being forcibly recruited into the military as part of the “people’s militia” are Chin youth and men of middle age.
Due to the increasingly restrictive conditions, many are unable to flee and are being conscripted against their will.
According to military sources, along the Nat Yay Kan–Padan road, a military column led by Division 99—alongside local military council units from areas including the Son Kone Artillery Battalion and the defense equipment factory—has been launching offensives.
At the same time, they are reinforcing their presence at the Nat Yay Kan base.
A military source said, “Since the ceasefire, their side has become more active. They’ve been reinforcing their troops and launching offensives.”
Although fighting has temporarily ceased at the strategic Nat Yay Kan base, reports indicate that the military council continues to launch offensives, deploying kamikaze drones and reconnaissance drones to carry out attacks.
Sent by Narinjara