New militia leader chosen

New militia leader chosen

Burmese authorities had recently appointed a rival Lahu chieftain to replace the former militia leader who was in jail since 25 August, reported sources from the border.

Lt-Col Hla Myint, new commander of IB 65, told a gathering of the 117-strong militia force from Nakawngmu, 27 miles north of the Thai border, on 25 September that Tin Win had been designated the leader in place of Hpo Thein and his two brothers who were arrested last month. (# 9-4, Militia chief taken into custody, S.H.A.N.)

During the assembly, 63 of the militiamen believed to be the disgraced Hpo Thein's followers were disarmed. Tin Win, a former officer the now defunct Mong Tai Army of Khun Sa, was then authorized to raise his force up to 100 men.
"The militias are forbidden from communicating with the enemy," he was reported as saying. "Anyone who is found associating with the enemy shall be executed." Hpo Thein and his brothers' whereabouts are unknown since they were taken into custody. One of the charges against them was association with Yawdserk's Shan State Army.

"All over the township of Mongton, only a handful of Shan militias remain," said another source from the area. "One in Maeken, commanded by Tarnleng; another in Nakawngmu, commanded by Wiya and the last one in Poongpakhem, commanded by Kyaw Tint. Altogether, they number less than 100."

In contrast, the total Lahu militia strength in the township would exceed 200, he estimated.

Several Shan militia leaders and headmen were arrested and had disappeared in the wake of the Pakhee Battle in April-May, when the Shans claimed to have captured hundreds of thousands of speed pills from the Burmese outpost.
N.B. In Report # 9-4, it was mistakenly reported that Hpo Thein was from Poongpakhem. It should be corrected to Nakawngmu.