May 7: The authorities of Ayataw Township, Monywa district in central Burma’s Sagaing Division, ordered local people to supply one person from each village for military trainings.

According to local residents, the edict was issued in accordance with the order from higher military authorities and that villagers were notified by means of the loudspeaker.

“Chairman U Tun said that villagers must pay 3500 Kyat a day for living costs of the cadet,” said a villager of Myetnet. “1000 Kyat from each household is being collected per month.”

But it is not clear when and where the trainings are to be carried out. Currently around 150 members of the notorious Union Solidarity and Development Association from Meikhila, Ma Hlaing, Thazi, Wundwin are being given military trainings at Meikhtila in nearby Mandalay Division.

A Meikhtila resident told that although local people do not know why the trainings are being carried out, they are frightened and concerned by the prospect of members of USDA wearing military uniforms.

“They are not wearing their usual uniforms but the green military ones…and they are training at a school on the edge of the town. Local people are a bit worried and puzzled by it. They have this tradition of oppression and we are very worried…We are looking at it with suspicious eyes.”