Militia and culture organizations are jointly organizing youth to attend military training courses in order to fight back against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Nogmung Township in northern Kachin State.

Since May 2nd organizations including U Htone Phu Dagone, Patron of the Rawang Tradition and Culture Organization and some leaders of militia groups are doing door to door organizing in the villages of Nogmung Township handing out gifts, said a local from Nogmung Township.

These organizations try to persuade locals that they would have to undergo military training to defend the native region, as the KIA was planning to launch attacks in Nogmung Township.

The KIA Brigade-1 is active in Putao District located on the upstream of Kachin State. Since the Feb 1 coup, there have been no reports of fights in Nogmung and Khaunglanphyu in Putao District.

The military training course conducted by the militia was previously set to commence on May 3rd. They continue to try recruitment again, as so far young people have not turned up.

The persons who are organizing the youths for military training courses are members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). They are organizing the youths from Nogmung Township to villages in Innmaingkha.