During their offensive against SSPP/SSA in October, the Burma Army used at least 1,000 People’s Militia forces from northern and southern Shan State.

During October 2nd to 30th, there were 41 clashes in total during the Burma Army offensive operation targeting the bases of SSPP/SSA in the townships of Hsipaw, Mongyai, and Ke See. During their attacks the Burma Army was also using forces from the local People’s Militias, said an officer of a People’s Militia who wants to remain unnamed.

“The local People’s Militia from the south had to send 50 troops to Keng Tong for military training. The People’s Militia from the north had to go to Man Kat, at Tangyan Township for  training. The training was related to how to seize bases, and after their training they were sent to the front line,” said the militia officer.

One of the SSPP/SSA commanders on the frontline said he heard soldiers speaking in Shan from the Burma Army camp base. “Amongst the soldiers who were killed in the battle, the Burma Army only collected their Burmese soldiers’ bodies, not those of the People’s Militia forces. A civilian car was forced to carry nine soldiers’ corpses to Ke See, and none of them was from the People’s Militias. They just abandoned those bodies, and due to the smell the villagers and monks had to organize funerals and bury them,” said one of the village headmen.

Over ten battalions from Burma Army led some of the forces from People’s Militias and carried out attacks targeting the bases of SSPP/SSA in Ta Pha Saung, Kong Mark Hin Tarn, Kong Sao Merng, Kong Mung Merng, Kong Mike Nyaung, and Nam Put. Those battalions were LIB 522 (Lashio), LIB 240 (Hsenwi), LIB 267 (Nam Salarb), LIB 147 (Nong Kaw), LIB 33 (Nam San) under the command of Northeastern Regional Command based in Lashio (Northern Shan State), and LIB 296, LIB 525, LIB 575, LIB 577, LIB 569, LIB 240 under the command of Burma Army’s Central Eastern Command in Kholam.

The SSPP/SSA has been conducting ambushes against the Burma Army and People’s Militia troops that pass through the townships of Mongyai, Hsipaw, Ke See, and Murng Nong as counter-attacks in response to the Burma Army offensive operations. The fighting caused injuries and deaths on both sides, and four civilians were also killed. The SSPP/SSA has also lost its bases in Ta Pha Saung and Kong Mung Merng to the Burma Army.

It was promised that if the SSPP/SSA withdrew its troops from the base in Ta Pha Saung, the Burma Army would also withdraw their troops. However, up until now the Burma Army troops have remained in that base, and are digging trenches and bunkers, and building barracks. Furthermore, villagers have been forced to provide them with bamboo, wood, and thatch to build their base, according to the villagers.

Though a union level ceasefire agreement between the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army and the Naypyitaw government was signed in January, 2012, the fighting hasn’t ceased. Therefore, in order to reduce the fighting the leaders of both sides have been trying to form a joint committee to oversee peace and development in the area.

The People’s Militia are armed groups under the control of the Burma Army. There are hundreds of government People’s Militia groups (big to small) in northern and Southern Shan State.