People's Militia Forced to Joined Army

People's Militia Forced to Joined Army
9/9/2008
Narinjara.

Buthidaung: Members of the people's militia in Buthidaung Township north of Sittwe have been forced by army authorities to join the Burmese army to serve permanent posts as soldiers, said one member of the militia who recently fled to Bangladesh.
He said, "We are facing big problem after the army authority forced us to join the army. We do not want to serve in the army because we are all farmers with our own families and business here. It is impossible for us to join the army, so I fled to Bangladesh to avoid being conscripted into the army."

According to a local source, the Burmese army is now having a difficult time recruiting soldiers in Arakan State, despite that many Arakanese youth joined the army last decade. Many Arakanese youth are now looking for jobs in neighboring countries like Thailand and Malaysia.

"The army authority in our area could not recruit soldiers to fill its yearly target, so members of the people's militia have been forced to join the army," he said.

He also added, "We joined the people's militia so we could have a chance to work our business with family in our village, and would not need to leave our village for any frontlines to wage war with rebels. Because of that we joined the people's militia. But now the army authority is forcing us to join the army. It is really a problem for us."

A close source to the Burmese army said they have issued a new regulation for its soldiers - if any soldier wishes to retire from the army, he must recruit at least three new men to replace him. Without this recruitment a soldier can not receive permission to retire from his service.

"It is not only for forthcoming retiring army men, but also other soldiers. If any soldiers want to retire from the army without finishing their tenure, they can leave, but they have to recruit three new soldiers for the army," he said.

The Burmese army in Arakan State is facing problems with many soldiers deserting due to poor treatment and conditions, and the number of soldiers serving in the army are going down by the day.

According to a report from the Burmese army in Sakhaka 15, the Military Operation Management commend based in Buthidaung, there were over 100 soldiers that deserted from headquarters in the first six months in 2008. Sakhaka 15 is formed by ten battalions that are stationed in several rural villages in Buthidaung Township.