January 17th, 2022
Katha Township General Administration Office is recruiting new members for the formation of the militia forces, in wards and villages in Katha Township in Sagaing Region, according to locals.
A local who declined to be named said: “I have heard the news that Katha Township General Administration Office called on ward administrators to recruit 20 people each from a village for the formation of the people’s militia force, at the meeting on January 6th.”
A local from a downtown ward said: “There is no such recruitment in my ward till now. But I have heard the news about the recruitment.”
This is the first time in Sagaing Region the junta troops recruit the civilians via the administrators.
Since the coup, the junta troops carried out airstrikes in Katha three times—one in Moetarlay village on May 31st, 2021, one in Naungpein village on October 18th, 2021 and one in Moetargyi village on January 12nd, 2022.
Katha Township of Sagaing Region shares a border with Kachin State.
There was intense fighting between a combined force of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People’s Defense Force (PDF) and the junta troops.
The military council continues to detain at least 20 civilians from Katha.
Katha Township is located on the bank of Ayeyawaddy River.
The KIA and the PDF are active in Katha where the PDFs attack the junta’s ships heading to Kachin State along Ayeyawaddy River.
Sent by the KNG.
