A junta-aligned militia in Mawdaung Town, on the border with Thailand, in Tanintharyi Region’s Myeik District is offering cooking oil and rice on top of a regular wage to new recruits.
Junta-affiliated organisations have promised to supply new recruits signing up to the militia the added incentives of a bag of rice and a can of cooking oil each, on top of a monthly salary of 6,000 Thai Baht (THB), an accepted currency in border areas like Mawdaung Town that is far more desirable and stable than the Myanmar kyat (MMK).
A resident of Mawdaung Town said: “The militia members were previously receiving salaries. Now, perhaps in an attempt to attract more recruits the junta is offering not just money but also rice and oil as incentives. Someone I know joined the militia, but his family is worried about him and doesn’t want him involved because of its [the militia’s] ties to the junta."
Previously, many young day labourers were employed as porters loading and unloading trucks from Thailand. But, their employment opportunities have greatly reduced since mid December 2024 when the road between Mawdaung Town on the Thai border and Tanintharyi Town was closed due to fighting between the junta and people's defence forces (PDFs).
The number of new militia recruits has increased recently because day workers with no other work opportunities have been signing up.
Currently, about 30 new militia recruits are receiving military training in Mawdaung Town.
Sources close to the new recruits claim that they have received the promised rice and oil but yet have to receive their first 6,000 THB salary.
Even though they are still receiving basic training militia recruits are being deployed for tasks such as guarding positions, manning checkpoints, and digging trenches at sites where junta troops are stationed, including areas around Hpayartaung Village, east of Mawdaung Town.
Since November 2024 the Mawdaung Town militia has made all the porters in the town attend militia training courses on a rotating basis saying that if they do not attend they will not be allowed to work.
Mawdaung Town is a border trading town opposite Prachuap Khiri Khan District in Thailand.
