Local residents report that the Shan Northern Alliance (SNA), operating under the military council, is forcibly recruiting elderly citizens and farmers as soldiers in the Biluhla region of Mohnyin Township, Kachin State. These forced recruitments have intensified since the end of July, causing significant distress in local communities.
On July 31st evening, six local residents from Thayet Kone ward in Biluhla town were forcibly taken, including U Win Myint (67 years old), U Aye Lwin (48 years old), and U Htun Lin (46 years old). Despite attempts by ward administrators and community leaders to secure their release, the military-aligned forces have refused to release them or even allow family visits. This incident has created a climate of fear and uncertainty in the area.
According to local sources, the SNA forces are conducting widespread forced recruitment operations in various areas including Bongkyaung, Sahtar, and Inngone regions of Biluhla. The situation has become so severe that most young people have fled the area, and remaining residents are afraid to leave their homes. Community activities, including funeral and wedding ceremonies, are severely affected due to the lack of people willing to participate, as residents fear being captured. Evening activities have completely ceased, with streets becoming deserted as people avoid any unnecessary movement outside their homes.
While the military council’s affiliated forces previously targeted mainly young people for forced recruitment, they have now expanded their operations to include elderly citizens and farmers due to the mass exodus of young residents from the area. This shift in recruitment tactics has severely disrupted daily life in the region, with communities living in constant fear. The situation has created a humanitarian crisis as normal social activities and agricultural work have been severely impacted, threatening both the social fabric and economic stability of the region. Local residents report that the atmosphere in the area has become increasingly tense, with people unable to conduct their daily activities without the constant fear of being forcibly recruited into military service.
