There is marked discrimination over the process of transformation into the Border Guard Force and the people’s militia and no one rule is being followed by the Burmese military junta, observers and analysts have said.
On the Sino-Burma border, the New Democratic Army – Kachin (NDA-K) and Kokang groups have already converted into the BGF.
Comparing the transformation of these two groups, it would seem that the rights and privileges have not been equal, analysts pointed out.
The NDA (K) has only 400 soldiers but it could transform into three BGF battalions. On the other hand, the Kokang group has 800 troops but it was transformed to only one BGF battalion.
Even though KDA has fewer soldiers than the SSA-N, the ceasefire group has the right to transform into five militia groups.
According to analysts, the NDA (K) and the KDA are seen to support the junta and these groups have got special privileges for being in business in Burma.
The U Mahtu Naw led Kachin Defence Army (KDA), based in Kaung Hkar in Kut Kai Township in Northern Shan State, has been slowly transforming into the Kaung Hkar militia group.
The Burmese military junta had proposed in April that all ceasefire groups transform to the Border Guard Force (BGF). The regime’s proposal said armed groups based in border areas have to convert to BGF and those inside Burma have to transform into people's militia groups. The process for both has started.
The KDA submitted a list of 800 troops to the junta. These soldiers will be part of five militia groups named Kaung Hkar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 with 400 troops, a person close to KDA said.
A single militia group can have about 90 troops and the remaining soldiers will be transformed into groups with other names, China border based political and military analyst U Aung Kyaw Zaw said.
"It is learnt that 800 troops have been listed. There will be about 90 soldiers in a group. The regime will only allow one third to transform to a people's militia group. The rest will be transformed under other names," he said.
Lt. Gen Ye Myint, Chief of Military Affairs Security, and Shan State Army (North) SSA-N had a meeting on November 14 in Lasho. At the meeting, the SSA-N submitted a list of 200 soldiers for transformation to the people's militia.
It is learnt that the junta has allowed the SSA-N to transform into people's militia groups in Nam Lang, Karli and northern Ruili valley (Shweli valley) with a few soldiers.
Muse, Nam Kham and Kyukot-Pang Hsai area are included in Ruili valley. There are about 130 troops in the valley as original members but the junta has allowed only 30 soldiers to be in a militia group, the analyst said.
