The setting up of militia battalions by the military junta is for use as front line forces in its military operations against ethnic ceasefire groups that may continue to resist Naypyitaw’s BGF programme, said Ta Ai Nyunt, Secretary General of the non-ceasefire Wa National Organization (WNO).

On 30 March, the junta held ceremonies to mark the setting up of two militia units, one based along the Thai-Burma border and the other along the Sino-Burma border.

A Lahu militia unit which is based in Mongton Township, which is also where the United Wa State Army (UWSA)’s 171st Military Region is active, opposite Chiangmai’s Chiangdao district, was promoted as BGF No.1007. Another militia unit which is based in Mongyu, Mongyawng Township, opposite the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)’s 911th Brigade base, became BGF No. 1008, according to a report in the New Light of Myanmar.  

Ta Ai Nyunt said, “It will be difficult using the militias to pressure us [the Wa] to transform into BGF, because even the junta itself can’t force them. The militias are only meant to become the junta’s front lines just like they were being used in the fighting against the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ last month.”

In mid March, a member of the junta-backed Lahu militia unit based in Namyoom, Shan State East’s Mongphyak Township, 51 miles from Tachilek, opposite Thailand’s Maesai, was injured in the fighting against the SSA because the junta had used the group as its advance guard during the operation.

Hseng Merng, a spokesperson of the SSA, also said that the militia men would be used to fight against their own ethnic groups like the Wa had been used to fight the SSA for years until 2005.

On 4 April, the recently promoted Mongton militia battalion was ordered to move their camp to Loi Khilake, a mountain range facing UWSA’s 772nd brigade. The group was reported to have been escorted by hundreds of Burmese Army soldiers during their way to the location, a source in Mongton said.

Last month, the group was told to set up a base at Loi Kawng Hona Kyaley, halfway between Loi Khilake and Nakawngmu.   

The movement is likely because of the Wa defiance of the junta’s BGF programme, a border watcher from the Thai-Burma border said.

However, Panghsang submitted a new proposal to Naypyitaw on 1 April. As yet, there has been no information from the Burmese Army. Nevertheless, the group expected its new proposal would be considered by the Burmese Army because one junta officer would be allowed to command a BGF battalion, unlike before when the Wa rejected having junta officers at the battalion level.