July 12th, 2022
It is reported that the coup regime-appointed township administration councils are conducting a census in the villages in Mongnai Township in southern Shan State under the name of “people’s defense.”
Since the beginning of the month, the junta’s administration councils have been collecting people’s names and have been instructed to form people’s defense and public health red cross groups in Mongnai Township.
“I haven’t heard any details about it in town yet. But they have already started collecting names in the villages and have been instructed to form groups called people’s defense and public red cross. They’re turning the people’s defense groups into “militias”, but the junta hasn’t supplied them with weapons,” said a 50-year-old resident of Mongnai.
Locals also say the census that the junta-appointed councils in Mongnai are conducting the census for the upcoming 2023 election.
A 40-year-old Mongnai resident said they have seen a number of strangers coming to his community from Lower Burma.
“We are seeing more and more new faces in our township. Many of them come from Lower Burma and mostly live in the outskirts. People from mainland Burma come to visit twice a month. They aren’t farmers or road construction workers. They just come and live in the outskirts and villages,” said a 40-year-old from Mongnai.
There are also more and more hair buyers and carpet and mat sellers in the villages. They travel from one village to another, he said.
More than a year after the military coup, the number of thieves in Mongnai has also increased as more strangers enter the township.
“There are more thieves in our town now than ever before. There are many more strangers, including hair buyers and mat sellers. There used to be some who rode motorcycles. But now they go from village to village on foot,” he said.
According to reports, the people from Lower Burma reportedly live outside the military, which is reportedly located outside the town of Mongnai.
In addition to the junta forces, the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) is also active in the area.
Sent from Shan Herald.