Military junta's restructuring ' Sorn arr shin
The Burmese Army yesterday started collecting money from Kwan-ka-bue villagers in Mudon Township , Mon State for resuming military
training for its pro military
organization – the “Sorn Arr Shin”
The Burmese Army Artillery battalion and Light Infantry battalion in the area collected Kyat 7000 Kyat per household for conducting military training for “Sorn Arr Shin” organization known as People Vigorous Association (PVA).
Currently the army in the area has been compiling a list of Kwan-ka-bue villagers for attending the military training said a villager. The training for this village will start in the beginning of September.
The local Light Infantry Battalion No.209 finished military training for Gone-nyin-tan village, Mudon Township last week.
Nay Pyi Taw had ordered local military authorities to compile a list of 30 villagers from each village in southern Burma including Karen State , Mon State and Tenasserim Division to attend the training.
Because of the order Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) in southern Burma has been holding meetings with Village Peace and Development council for the list.
The military
government had started military training for people since 2003 after the Depeyin incident for paramilitary force or anti-strike forces. During that time the military had compiled a list of men in the area for training. But local people refused to join it and the plan was kept in abeyance. However the government resumed it in late 2005 after conducting workshops for military administration officers at the township level and village level.
Last year the military government drafted the “Sorn Arr Shin” association structure. According to its description, “Sorn Arr Shin” has been formed with people who support the military government, which includes the Myanmar Red Cross
members, Firemen troops, Myanmar Women’s Affair Association members, Maternal and Child Welfare Association members,
Retired Soldier's Organization members, Village Militias, and Union Solidarity and Development Association members. They are all over 18 years.
The organization's structure is similar to that of the military and it has battalions and troops. It is armed with batons to defend themselves, special rubber bullets to shoot, helmets, uniforms, security cards, barbed wires, sticker and hand band.
The commanders of the organization are: TPDC’ Chairman, Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairman while the lower down commanders are TPDC members and VPDC members.
In each town “Sorn Arr Shin” has a thousand strong armed members and two battalions. In a battalion there are 300 members and 100 members of a village.
The intention of the organization is to stand up to any movement for democracy or uprising. If an uprising or a demonstration occurs, this organization's troops have to suppress the uprising by using arms provided to them.
The military government had succeeded in dividing the National League for Democracy leader Daw Aung Sun Suu Kyi and her supporters in Depeyin during her trip in 2003 by using “Sorn Arr Shin.” At that time, many people were killed and many were beaten up by the “Sorn Arr Shin”.
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