CNI News
6 October 2023
Arming militia worsens conflict, said Col.Khun Okka, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) to CNI News.
Arming militia can accelerate the current conflict and the conflict could not be reduced sort of and it was necessary to help the IDPs that arose from the conflict, he said.
"This is a nationwide policy of the Tatmadaw. The Tatmadaw armed the militia in northern Shan State to fight against the TNLA. In the same way,an it armed the Shanni militia to fight against the KIA/PDF joint forces. There are many militias in southern Shan State such as the Pa-O militia and the Homein militia. These, after all, can accelerate the conflict which cannot be reduced. When the conflict cannot be reduced, NCA signatories have to be providing the IDPs who arisen from the conflict with food, medicine and security. The NCA signatories want just peace and no conflict. So, they have a little chance to deal with the bad consequences of the conflict. They are looking for humanitarian assistance." said Khun Okka.
While the Tatmadaw is arming the Banmauk Myoma Militia
The Tatmadaw is training and arming the militias across the country and for the time being, it is arming the Namhkam Myoma militia in northern Shan State, the militias in Bago Region, the Banmauk Myoma militia in Sagaing Region.
The Tatmadaw is training and arming the militias in Banmauk and the Banmauk militias are conducting security patrols, said a Banmauk resident to CNI News.
" The other day, I saw militias or Pyu Saw Hti who were conducting a patrol. They had held semi-auto rifles. Only corporals had held automatic rifles. They are about 20 forces. The uniform is not like the military green. it is a little yellowish color. Their boots were not muddy." he said.
While Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is meeting with leaders of the militias in northern Shan State
The Tatmadaw and locals needed to cooperate for the territorial security and the Tatmadaw needed to fully arm the militias who were trained, said Min Zay Thant, leader of the Shaduzut militia, to CNI News.
“A lot of help from the local people who know the local geography very well are needed for the territorial security. The region will be peaceful if the locals hold the weapons with maintaining discipline in collaboration with the Tatmadaw. It is mainly necessary to hold the weapons systematically. The militias need modern weapons. Currently, we are facing with the enemy who has a lot of arms and ammunitions in our region." he said.
At present, There are community-based militia, indigenous militia and the militia that transformed from EAOs and they are conducting joint operations with the Tatmadaw.
