According to the residents in the Pa-O area in Shan State, the pro-junta people’s militia Pa-O National Organization (PNO), Shan State, is gathering three males per village to serve in the military from the villages in the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone.

The junta-appointed village administrators are collecting data of Pa-O males 18-35 years old to serve in the PNO.

According to the directive, every village in the area must give three villagers to the PNO. Those who refuse that calling have to pay a fine of 45,000 Kyat (about $25).

“They called out three people per village by drawing lots during these days. They are mustering soldiers for security as an excuse. If you cannot run away when they come and pick you up, you need to go with them. Similarly, in the past, PNO did everything by force such as taking the land by force,” said a resident.

“This happens after the recent attack on junta-cooperating PNO bases. They were collecting soldiers before. However, no one can make an objection, as they are armed. Since in the past, they wickedly administered the area,” the resident told Mizzima.

Many residents are running away due to the news of military service for the PNO in Pa-O self-administered zone. In addition, there has been a collection of 30,000 Kyat (US$17) per household for security costs.

The Karenni area, the main conflict zone with the military junta, borders the Pa-O self-administered zone. Thus, the residents said, the junta aims to reinforce the junta soldiers.

Shan Hills Battalion 1008 alleged that PNO was an army organized by the military junta and had nothing to do with Pa-O ethnicity. In the announcement, it warns about ethnic segregation created by the military junta because the PNO is just a pro-junta militia while Pa-O is an ethnic group.

In the past, there have been cases in which the PNO unfairly collected money from people. PNO-appointed administrators are more powerful than even government-appointed administrators. The PNO used to take land by force. Most of the Pa-O areas are controlled by the PNO. In some murder cases, even if the police knew the culprit, the police gave up continuing the investigation because they are afraid of making trouble with the organization the PNO. Currently, the military junta is giving more authority to PNO, according to a resident.

According to local media outlets, the PNO ordered administrators to choose three people per village for mandatory military service in villages around Taunggyi.