Locals Ordered to Serve in Militias

Buthidaung: The Burmese army has ordered the ward councils in Buthidaung, 80 miles north of Sittwe, to collect 25 people aged 18 to 35 from their respective wards to serve in the people's militia forces, said a government clerk from the town.

"Major Soe Win from the recruitment unit in Buthidaung issued the order to select 25 people for the militia from each ward in Buthidaung. If they don't, the ward chairman will fired from his position," said the clerk.

Since the order was issued by the army official, the ward chairmen are organizing local youths to join the people's militia.

"Our ward chairman, U Naing Naing, in Ward No. 7, the Jetty Ward, is looking for some unemployed youth to serve in the people's militia, but most youths have refused to serve in the militia," he added.

The town of Buthidaung in northern Arakan State near Bangladesh is comprised of seven wards, each having about 2,000 households.

In Buthidaung, there are 12 army battalions, one brigade, and one operation planning bureau. Over 10,000 soldiers have been posted in battalions in the town.

A teacher from Taung Chay Village said, "Security in our town is good because there are many battalions. I think extra forces like the people's militia is not needed for our town's security. There is another reason behind the formation of the people's militia," he said.

Burmese military authorities in Arakan State have formed not only people's militias but also fire brigades throughout the state recently. The authorities are also trying to increase the number of USDA members in Arakan.

In the past, fire brigades were not formed at the village level, but recently all villages in Arakan State have formed fire brigades with local villagers under the authorities command.

According to a source close to the Burmese army, in Arakan state, there are about 6,900 members in militias, but authorities have plans to increase that number to 11,000.

The formation of the people's militias is being carried out under the instructions of Colonel Maung Maung Lwin, who is in charge of the militias in the state.

Arakanese people believe that the formation of the militias and fire brigades in Arakan is part of a government plan to win the 2010 election through a pro-military government party.

narinjara