The Pa-O National Army (PNA/PNO) is forcing civilian villagers to buy PNA/PNO uniforms and take part in PNA parades to make them appear to have more soldiers than they really do.

On 30 September 2024, the PNA/PNO forced men aged from 18 to 50 from Pawmu Village in Taunggyi District, Shan State to attend a military training graduation ceremony in Pawmu Village, despite none of them having completed PNA/PNO military training, according to a local who spoke to SHAN.

A 24-year-old Pa-O youth said: “Two weeks ago, we were forced to pay 50,000 kyats (MMK) for the PNO uniform. Since then, they’ve been telling us we have to go take part in a military parade. I’ve already attended a four-day military training course. But some people who didn’t attend the training were still forced to participate in the graduation ceremony.”

On 30 September, the PNA posted videos on its social media page of what seemed to be over 20,000 newly trained PNO/PNA recruits graduating from training in a ceremony in Pawmu Village.

A youth who took part in PNA military training said: “Their strength is about 20,000 [newly trained] personnel according to the list shared on their PNO social media page. It’s not that many. It doesn’t even reach 10,000. To be clear, those are not their soldiers; they’re just local people [who took part in the parade].”

According to him the PNA training is basic and brief. It lasts only 10 to 15 days and is limited to teaching parade ground drills to new recruits, such as marching and saluting.

Major Myint Aung, a spokesperson for the PNA said: “We do it with the idea that everyone has a responsibility to control their area. Every man should realise the importance of having basic military skills. That’s why we provide this training.”

The PNO/PNA military graduation ceremony in Pawmu Village was attended by Pa-O ethnic people from the Northern part of Taunggyi City, Northern Hopong, Eastern Yatsauk, and Kalaw towns.

The PNA Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee, U Htun Naing; the PNA Deputy Chief, U Nay Win Htun; and the PNA Secretary, U Khun Thein Pe also attended the ceremony.

This was not the first PNA/PNO graduation ceremony with many participants. Previously, on 21 August, what seemed to be 10,000 other newly trained PNA/PNO soldiers took part in a graduation ceremony in Pinlaung Township, also in Taunggyi District.