Following complaints that people are being forcibly conscripted into the Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) S.H.A.N. spoke to Lieutenant Yawd Serk the RCSS/SSA chairman about the issue.
People from Mong Kong Township in Southern Shan State have said that men are being forcibly conscripted into the RCSS/SSA unless they can find someone they can afford to pay to take their place serving for the RCSS/SSA.
Lt. Gen. Yawd Serk said: “It is our policy that that when people reach 18 years of age they must be conscripted into the forces. Not only Shan people, but also other ethnic people who live in Shan State must do it too. I want to know who wrote the letter claiming to be the representative of Mong Kong Township residents. Does he really represent them? If people have a problem with conscription and if people do not want to have a Shan State Army it is okay. All new soldiers who are receiving military training in Loi Tai Leng can be ordered to return home immediately.
“According to our policy people have to serve five years in our forces, but only serving two or three years is also okay. All people who come and serve in the RCSS/SSA are there of their own free will. We do not forcibly recruit people, they should go of their own free will because it is their responsibility.
“Why has our Shan State disappeared? It is because the princes did not give military training. Because they did not make preparations to defend their own state the enemy could invade and easily live in Shan State. Everyone knows that. When we realised this had been happening we announced conscription [so that it would not happen again].
“If you look at Thailand they recruit every two and a half years. If someone has no military experience he cannot be a candidate in village or township level elections. That is the other country’s system, so we also want to have that kind of system.
“We want all men in Shan State to have had military training in any group. So, whichever forces they serve in if they have completed [their service] it is okay. It is not true that they only have to serve in the RCSS. For example if they have done military service in the SSPP, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) or the Pa’oh National Liberation Army (PNLA) they do not need to come and serve in our force, but they must have a certificate that says they have served their military service.
“We recognise that the SSA should be a single force and we intend to combine all the forces in Shan State into one single force.”
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
