Fri 20 Mar 2009, Hong Dein, IMNA
The People’s Militia Force (PMF) in villages across Mudon Township will be given new weapons, say local sources, who also surmise that the armament is a preparation for the upcoming 2010 elections.
Two weeks ago, the Mudon Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) called a meeting with the Special Branch police and every village PMF chairman. According to a source present at the meeting, each PMF head was asked if his group would like to receive new weapons.
Not every PMF head accepted the offer, however. According to the source at the meeting, many of the PMF heads were hesitant to accept the added responsibility that would come with new weapons. Some worried they would be asked to take part in offensive military missions with the army, while others worried about penalties if weapons are lost or damaged.
The meeting provided no details on where the guns will come from or when they will be given. According to the source, however, the guns will be provided by the Southeast Command, which controls military activities in the area. The orders come directly from Naypyidaw, added the source.
Though it does not look like the village PMFs will be required to pay for the new weapons, PMF heads were directed to purchase new, full uniforms for PMF soldiers in each village. According to the source, these uniforms will be paid for with existing PMF funds. Each month, every household in Mudon is required to pay an at least 2000 kyat village security fee.
According to a source in a Mudon Village Peace and Development Council office, this is not the first time new weapons have been promised to the PMF in Mudon. Past promises, however, have not been followed through on, raising questions of whether the new weapons will materialize.
If the new weapons do appear, local sources say it is likely because the weapons are a preparation for general elections scheduled for 2010.
According to a former village headman in Mudon, local villagers do not always take the PMF seriously. New weapons and uniforms, however, might help to increase the PMF’s legitimacy. The PMF, in turn, would then be better equipped to organize and control the election.
“If something happens at the village, if they have new guns they can arrange and cooperate with the village headman to stop the problem,” explained the old headman. “Then the villagers will believe in them, because they are from their village and they solve the problem.”
The success of this plan depends on how the PMF treats local villagers, added the old headman: “On the other hand, if they have the gun they will have power. And they may use their power against the people.”
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