According to latest sources coming from the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ areas, some of the SSA brigades that transformed themselves into junta-formed militia units have recently received dozens of car licenses by the ruling military junta.

Two weeks ago, Brig-Gen Aung Kyaw Zaw, Commander of the Northeastern Region Command, has granted car licenses to the transformed groups of SSA ‘North’s 3rd Brigade, 7th Brigade and its Hsengkaoew Headquarters.

The licenses are for about 30 cars, with a value of nearly 1,000 million Kyat (US $). In Burma, the cost of a license is about Kyat 3 million (US $) each.

“Before the Shan army accepted the program, the junta’s top negotiator had promised them that they would be granted car licenses if the group transformed into border guard forces,” a source said.

According to him, the promise was given by former Chief of Military Affairs Security (MAS) Lt-Gen Ye Myint to SSA ‘North’’s former Chairman Maj-Gen Loi Mao at the headquarters of the Northeastern Region Command.

It is apparent that the transformed militia units will be treated differently from non militia units which have already been seen with Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’. For instance, the SSA’s 1st Brigade, which did not accept the BGF program, was attacked by the Burma Army five times.

Regardless, the transformed groups have not received any other significant benefits, only the car licenses, a source close to the SSA said.