Businessmen into illegal teak trade are being forced to procure young people with money for the Burma Army so that they can run their business smoothly in Kachin State, northern Burma, said local sources.

Several young people “bought” by teak businessmen have been sent to No. 320 Light Infantry Battalion of the Burma Army based between Myothit Village and N’mawk Town (Momauk) in Bhamo District, a resident told KNG today.

A local teak businessman said he recently “bought” two young people for the Burma Army and paid Kyat 300,000 (about US $ 250) for each.

All illegal teak traders in Bhamo District have been threatened that their business ventures would be closed down if they did not fulfill their quota of supplying young people in keeping with the allotment by the local Burma military base, since last month, he added.

Fresh recruitment of people under age 35 into the military is on by village heads in Daw Hpum Yang town on the Myitkyina-Bhamo highway car road near N’mawk in accordance with the army’s orders, said residents.

In Daw Hpum Yang, some local youth have been directly recruited by Burmese soldiers by holding them up on the roads at night, including those between ages of 14 and 18 years, a resident told KNG.

Sources close to local Burma military in Bhamo District said young men who can pay Kyat 20,000 (about US $ 16) to the army are released but those who cannot are sent to military training camps.

The army has resumed recruitment through out Kachin State after the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) reiterated their demand for self determination of Kachin State at the junta’s National Convention which is meeting for its final session since July.