The Myanmar military junta, which is having a problem recruiting soldiers, is arming Pyu Saw Htee, a pro-army group, with most of the members belonging to the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in the conflict-ridden Sagaing Region.

These so-called Pyu Saw Htee have been conducting large-scale military operations in the region which has seen a serious uptick in violence over the last few months.

The Pyu Saw Htee, who were already know the area and do not have to receive salaries, appear to have become the backbone of the junta’s attacks in the region.

Zee Phyu Kone village in Sagaing Region is the village where Pyu Saw Htee were trained and camp together with junta soldiers. About 30 junta’s soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee have been stationed in the village, which has two-thirds of military supporters and members of the USDP.

Clashes between local People’s Defence Forces (PDF) and the Pyu Saw Htee and junta forces have increased recently.

Local rebel forces used drones to attack the village of Zee Phyu Kone, where Pyu Saw Htee and junta troops were stationed, in Pale Township, Sagaing Division at around 4 pm on January 28.

"They do not seem to know who was attacking. They fired and shot back. Some Pyu Saw Htee members cried out for their injuries and some from fear,” an information officer from Aung San Force-ASF said.

He said five members from the junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee group were killed in the clashes on that day.

This is not the first time that Zee Phyu Kone village, about 9 miles west of Pale township, has been attacked. This is the third attack in January. Clashes also broke out on January 23 and January 28, killing about 10 members of the Military Council and Pyu Saw Htee.

Most of the Pyu Saw Htee were wearing junta soldier uniforms, so the dead bodies could not be separated as junta soldiers or Pyu Saw Htee members, he added.

The two villages where Pyu Saw Htee and the junta troops are stationed are Zee Phyu Kone and Inma Htee villages with about 200 houses each in Pale Township, which has 188 villages in total.

Non-Pyu Saw Htee members in those two villages no longer live in the village.

"In these villages, people have not been able to live in their homes for a long time. Some are already living in tents in the forest,” a local villager from the area said.

In addition, Pyu Saw Htee and junta soldiers loot and then seal the homes of National League for Democracy (NLD) supporters and suspected resistance group members.

"Their counter-attack strategy is very dangerous for us. We have equal access for the news network and we are also in the same local area. Therefore, if they become stronger, it will be very difficult to handle the situation for us. If we have a good chance, it would be better to eradicate them,” said an officer from the Aung San Force.

Other areas in Sagaing Region that Pyu Saw Htee stronghold members live in are villages in Taze Township and Kanbalu Township.

Pyu Saw Htee members are encamped in Ree dwe, Maw Taw, Tawk Kashat, Kan Yoe, Tin Ngot Gyi villages in Kanbalu township and Kyun Le village in Taze Township.

A junta helicopter landed in Kyun Lal village on January 27 and Maw Taw village on January 8 and handed over weapons to Pyu Saw Htee trainees, according to local sources.

The Pyu Saw Htee troops, armed with some weapons, opened fire on Maw Taw village and started fighting with the villagers frequently, according to a local resident.

Three NLD supporters from the Maha Myaing ward, Taze township, Shwebo District, Sagaing Division were reportedly arrested and killed by Pyu Saw Htee and Military Council soldiers near Kyun Lay village on January 24. The victims were U Myo, 55, his wife, Daw Tin Mar Aye, and his son, Ko Arkar Myo who was 26-years-old.

"On that day, they went to buy paddy between the Kyun Lal and Moe Kaung village. Only three of them went. No weapons were taken. They were arrested in the evening. After that they were beaten and killed,” a relative said.

Pyu Saw Htee members from Kyun Lal, Ka Be, and Bay Yin villages and Kanbalu township set fire to the houses of the local people and forced them to attend the Pyu Saw Htee training and thus many locals had to flee their homes.