Regime Moves to Register Civil Servants as Auxiliary Forces in Northern Shan

As the Myanmar military shifts combat units from northern Shan State to reinforce its forces in Chin and central Myanmar, local authorities have quietly begun registering police, firefighters and civil servants as members of auxiliary forces in northern Shan, according to leaked directives.

On June 29, the Shan State government issued a confidential order requiring township offices to compile lists of personnel aged 18 to 60 and submit them to the Northeastern Command’s People’s Militia Department. Townships covered include Lashio, Muse, Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Nawnghkio, Namtu, Mongmit, Mabein, Tangyan, Mongyin, Hseni, Kunlong and Namkham. The directive applies to police and their family members, firefighters and civil servants, all between the ages of 18 and 60.

Hseni and Kunlong are under the control of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and Nam

kham is controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

A female civil servant in Lashio confirmed that she was among those to be registered. “Our office has about 23 staff [eligible for inclusion in the list]. I am included because I fall within the age bracket. We don’t know how many from other ministries were listed,” she told The Irrawaddy.

The move goes beyond the 2010 Reserve Forces Law, which obliges retired or resigned military personnel as old as 67 to serve for up to five years. The law was activated by the military regime in February 2024 at the same time as the Conscription Law, after the Myanmar military had become seriously depleted by daily clashes across the country.

According to figures published by the Myanmar War Veterans Organization, the country had an estimated 91,677 veterans and 161,372 auxiliary members in September 2021, with veterans organizations established in 308 of Myanmar’s 330 townships.

Military defector Zin Yaw explained that auxiliary forces include firefighters, police and Red Cross members, who are obliged to serve in the military during emergencies. He described the latest mobilization as a pre‑emptive measure by the regime to buy time in case of renewed fighting. “They are trying to hold ground with auxiliary forces,” he said.

The Myanmar military has redeployed many of its units from Shan State to central Myanmar after Chinese intervention halted ethnic rebels’ offensives in the north. But the military remains concerned that the fragile ceasefire could collapse at any time, he said.

The regime has already lost large swaths of territory in northern Shan. Although China pressured the MNDAA and TNLA to return certain towns, including Lashio, and the Myanmar military has clawed back some territory, its presence remains limited. Neither the MNDAA nor the TNLA has shown interest in joining the junta’s peace talks by the July 31 deadline.

Analysts say that with combat units stretched thin, the military is increasingly turning to civilians and veterans to reinforce its grip. Zin Yaw noted that while auxiliary forces previously consisted of police, firefighters and Red Cross members, the regime now plans to train and arm anyone fit for duty, including civil servants, assigning them to serve as guards and to perform local security tasks.