People’s militia holds second training in Kachin

Published on Wednesday, 09 January 2013 16:33

Recruits receiving training for the people's militia in Tarlawgyi village, Kachin State (Photo - EMG)

The people’s militia in Kachin is training recruits to beef up security in villages along the Ayeyawady River.

Sources said the move to protect the Shan villages came when violent clashes between government troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) intensified.

Kachin rebels reportedly arrested villagers, demanded extortion money, and recruited new members to their army.

Recruits receiving training for the people's militia in Tarlawgyi village, Kachin State (Photo - EMG)

The Tarlawgyi village started forming a people’s militia in May 2012. The second, two-week long course for joining the people’s militia began on January 5.

Over 200 trainees attended the first militia course and 320 are now attending the second militia course. Apart from Tarlawgyi village, locals from nearby villages are also attending the militia course,” people’s militia leader San Wai told to Eleven Media Group on January 6.

Members of the Kachin-stationed 37th Infantry Division conducted the trainings for militiamen. The trainees were equipped with 50 small weapons and 6,000 bullets after the course.

Recruits receiving training for the people's militia in Tarlawgyi village, Kachin State (Photo - EMG)

“The youth are not obligated to join and hold weapons. But we have been affected by the war since 1962. What should you do? The future is in their hands. We are getting old. So I asked them to join the militia,” the people’s militia leader said.

Tarlawgyi is a region where KIA often operates for extorting money and recruiting new members. In 2011, KIA arrested young villagers from Tawlawgyi for recruitment while they were working in a farm. In April 2012, 52 villagers who were recruited by KIA returned to Tarlawgyi and exchanged arms for peace.