Myanmar’s regime is compiling lists of government employees in southern Shan State to form so-called people’s militias.
The order from Shan State’s security and border affairs minister Colonel Sein Win called for lists, excluding police officers, in Taunggyi and Kalaw districts and Pa-O and Danu self-administered zones by August 17.
The order says civil servants, including health and educational staff, will be used as auxiliary forces under the military’s Eastern Command with tasks allocated according to the size of the militia battalion.
A junta source, who asked not to be named, said: “The military has suffered heavy casualties in southern Shan State and Kayah State. It has been significantly depleted so it is planning to include government employees in militias.”
A military defector said: “The military has been hit by casualties and it can hardly find recruits. But I don’t think arming civil servants will work. I guess it can only be formed on paper and can be implemented only when employees are willing.”
Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s military has been hit hard by desertions and heavy casualties in daily clashes with resistance forces across the country.
The regime has conscripted thieves and other minor criminals but many allegedly fled during training.
