Following Clashes, Burma Army Scrutinizes Village Residency Lists

Burma Army troops carried out unexpected checks of villagers through comparisons to resident and family lists in northern Shan State’s Muse Township on Tuesday, raising concern among locals.

Community members said that soldiers came to Muse’s Nam Oum village from 6 a.m. until noon, ordering them to gather so that they could be verified as residents of the area.

“They ordered all residents to gather at a market near the headman’s house—they told us, house by house, at about 5:30 a.m. They didn’t give us a reason. They should have told us why they want to check all of the resident and family lists,” one of the villagers—who requested anonymity—told NMG. “Some people were so afraid to go outside their home. They don’t understand the situation—they only know that they are afraid of soldiers. They were so worried about it,” the individual added.

The villagers were reportedly able to return to their homes and move freely after the check was completed.

The soldiers who performed the check were from Nam Poung base camp in Lashio and Tarmoenye base camp in Kutkai, locals said.

“Checking the resident and family lists is the duty of an immigration officer—soldiers don’t need to do it,” the villager said. “I think the army can do whatever it wants in Myanmar.”

NMG reported that clashes broke out between the Burma Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army near Nam Oum village last week. Locals said that they believe this is what led to the spontaneous residency checks and that government forces were investigating whether members of ethnic armed organizations were staying in the community.