(Translation of news articles direct from EMG and Opposite Eye in February
2013.)
U San Wai the patron of Tarlawgyi Shan Village’s people militia is now demanding the army
to provide the third batch of militia training for his village as the volatile situation
there still requires his village to be armed and prepared to defend themselves
against the terrorist KIA.
According
to him the first batch of militia training was given in May last year mainly to
the KIA returnees, who were forcefully-recruited by KIA Kachins against their
will, and the Tarlawgyi village people militia has been formed with them as the
core members.
The
village militia was further strengthened by more youths who attended the second
batch of militia training given by the army’s IB-37 from Myitkyinar in January this year.
“People from the four villages nearby also participated in
the training and forming of their own People Militia units. Our militia is solely
for the defence of our communities. We Shans just want to be living our life
peacefully and KIA Kachins should leave us alone,” said U San Wai.
He added
that at present his people are taking turns working the fields and guarding the
village and the nearby fields.
“Our militia is now about 250 strong since the beginning of
this year. All are our youths both Shans and Burmese. Only Shan and Burmese
villages have the People Militia. Kachin villages do not have. Now the KIA
Kachins do not dare to come near our villages. Previously they always bothered
us and we suffered,” explained one villager from one Shan village
on the east bank of Irrawaddy.
Tarlawgyi People Militia's Small-arms demonstration. |
Kachin
State’s 4 districts, 18 townships, and 11 sub-townships have a total population
of more than 1.6 million in the year 2,012 and there are more than 500,000
Kachins, nearly 400,000 Burmese, over 300,000 Shans, and almost 300,000 other
ethnic groups living in the Kachin State.
According
to the last census figures the districts of Myitkyinar, Moenhyin, Bamaw, and
Putao have population of more than 1.6 million out of which Kachins are
39.319%, Burmese 29.288%, Shans 23.633%, Chins 0.737%, Karens 0.218%, Yakhines
0.217%, Mons 0.030%, and Kayahs 0.020%.
Population density map of Kachin State (2009). |
Since the
Shan village of Tarlawgyi has a 250 strong armed-militia unit KIA hasn’t been
able to raid the village for their usual pillages and rapes. But KIA thugs are still lurking in the jungle near Tarlawgyi and they are regularly raiding the fields away from the village whenever they have a chance to terrorize the villagers.
At about
11 am on February 5 this year a group of five young villagers searching for the
wild orchids in the nearby jungle was attacked by an armed group of at least 7
KIA Kachins. Aung Htun Lin (aged-32) the son of U Sai Man of Tarlawgyi Village’s
Ward-4 was captured by the KIA men while the rest Wai Moe, Wai Soe, Nyunt Win,
and Phoe Khin managed to flee.
Fate of Aung
Htun Lin taken away by the KIA men is still unknown but following photos are
the images of some of the Tarlawgyi's Shan and Burmese villagers taken away and killed by the KIA
terrorists in the year 2011 alone.
Than Htun (40 - Burmese) killed in the night of 25 June 2011. |
Zarni Htun (32 - Shan) killed in the night of 6 July 2011. |
Yan Naing Kyaw (31 - Burmese) killed in the night of 6 July 2011. |
Than Soe (39 - Shan) killed in the night of 6 July 2011. |
Zaw Win (36 - Burmese) killed in the night of 25 June 2011. |
Thar Htay (50 - Shan) killed in the night of 10 September 2011. |
Maung Kyaw (44 - Burmese) killed in the night of 11 September 2011. |
Than Soe (33 - Shan) killed in the night of 20 August 2011. |
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