Document Actions
Villagers persuaded to become soldiers
Burma junta is persuading people to recruit as soldiers or become members of Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) by promising high positions to the public in Nam Kham Township at the Sino-Burma border, reported a local source.
By: Lieng Lern (Tel:++6683
1537724)
On 22
February 2008 at 10:00 am, Nam Kham Second Police Chief Aung Naing with people
from over 20 other departments held a meeting at the youth center in Kay Hkun
village which is located at North of Nam Mao (Shweli) River. There were over 100
participants in the meeting.
A participant in the meeting said the
police chief told them that "Whoever wants to become soldiers please give your
name to us. But you must have secondary or high school level of education. If
you are a university graduate, it is even better. We will appoint you at high
positions".
"If we don't want to become soldiers we can become members
of USDA. If we join them, we can cross the watergate from our village to Nam
Kham even after the closing time by showing our USDA cards. The gate opens at 6
am and closes at 6 pm", he added.
Last month, the authorities also
collected names of people who are over 18 in Nam Kham Township to send to the
new capital for constitution referendum on May 21, 2008. People who do not have
current ID cards must renew. But immigration officers said it might be difficult
to finish renewing all ID cards citing insufficient time given.
On the
same day, 3 meetings were held in other villages: Hat Hin with over 100
participants Nawng Hking with over 80 attendees and Kay Khun.
Poppy cultivation soars in Kayah State