Kachin splinter group converted to people’s militia

by Phanida
Tuesday, 20 October 2009 21:40

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – As part of the Burmese military junta’s policy of bringing disparate armed groups under its wings, a small ceasefire Kachin splinter group led by former Col. Lasan Awng Wah was converted into a people’s militia at an official function.

The transformation ceremony was held in La Wa Yang village, Wai Mau Township, east of Irrawaddy, 20 miles northeast of Kachin State capital Myitkyina on October 16.

The function was attended by Col. Lasan Awn Wah, who was a former KIA intelligence and National Security Department in-charge and the junta’s Northern Command Commander Maj. Gen. Soe Win.

The junta is keen on and applying pressure to transform the ceasefire groups into either the Border Guard Force (BGF) or People’s Militia depending on respective strength.

“The People’s Militia is lower than the BGF in status. Lasan Awng Wah was included in its 10-member Patron. They have a combat force of only 60 and the Resident Lawayang People’s Militia was divided into two groups,” Kachin News Group Editor Naw Din said.

Junta’s Regional Command Commander Maj. Gen. Soe Win divided the ceasefire group into two groups with a strength of 30 each and named them ‘Lawah’ and ‘Kway Htu’. They have to wear green uniforms.

Lasan Awn Wah group split from the KIO/KIA in early 2004 and took refuge in an area controlled by the ‘New Democratic Army – Kachin’ (NDA-K).

In 2005, the former Northern Command Commander Maj. Gen. Ohn Myint gave them an area in ‘Kway Htu Pa’ region, seven miles south of Lawa Yun village.