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Military council recruits militias in Paletwa Township

December 3rd, 2021

The military council is preparing to recruit new members for the formation of the militia force in the villages of Paletwa Township in southern Chin State.

The military council is collecting the lists of names with a quota of at least 15 people from each village.

A village who declined to be named said: “The commander of No.289 Battalion based in Paletwa met in-charges from nine villages near Paletwa Township, on November 26th. The commander told them to form the militia forces, with a quota of 15 to 30 persons from each village, based on the number of populations. The name lists are to be sent to the commander not later than December 3rd. For my village, he told me to recruit 30 persons—ten hardcore members and 20 auxiliary members without fail.”

The military council is planning to form militia forces in all villages of Paletwa Township. Currently, the military council plans to form the militia forces in nine villages near Paletwa Township, namely below Miletwa, Launggadoe, Seinsin, Ngapyway, Ankho, Siphalaung, Tamanthar, Kinwa and Kyaw.

“I have sent the lists of villagers aged between 18 and 50 to the commander of No.289 Battalion. The military will give the basic training course in the villages. The militia force is classified into two groups—hardcore and auxiliary. The commander said the members would be equipped with weapons if necessary.”

Fighting took place between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military council’s troops in Paletwa Township. Due to fighting, thousands of locals are still taking shelter in downtown Paletwa and Sami Townships.

There have been no fighting between the AA and the military council’s troops in Paletwa Township since the beginning of this year.

The military council forced the IDPs in downtown Paletwa to return to their homes by paying a small amount of money after stability was restored to a certain degree. The formation of the people’s militia forces comes after the return of the IDPs.

sent by the KMG.

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