In the Samka region of Nyaungshwe Township, Southern Shan State, the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) militia is intensifying its grip on local communities through forced military recruitment and heavy taxation, leaving residents struggling under mounting financial and social pressures.

According to a local resident who spoke to SHAN, the PNO is prioritizing Pa-O-speaking villagers for military conscription, while families from other ethnic groups are being forced to pay a monthly fee of 30,000 kyats.

“They are recruiting from Pa-O villages in turns. For the rest of us, the fees are mandatory. We’re already struggling to survive, but they’re armed, so we have no choice,” the resident revealed.

The PNO militia, currently the only armed group operating in Samka, has been conducting regular patrols in the area. While fighting and artillery fire have decreased, the group has reportedly pressured displaced Karenni civilians to return home, with only displaced students allowed to remain.

In Taunggyi Township, the PNO is preparing to double taxes on sand and brick quarries starting in April, a move expected to significantly increase construction costs.

“The PNO plans to double taxes on sand and brick businesses soon. This will hit housing construction hard, and they’ll personally come to collect the fees,” a Taunggyi resident told SHAN.

The militia has also been imposing additional levies on businesses, including gas stations, in townships like Panlong (ပၢင်လွင်း) and Hopong. These fees, often labeled as military service contributions or property taxes, are adding to the financial strain on local entrepreneurs.

Local youth and residents have expressed frustration over the relentless taxation, which they say is making it increasingly difficult to earn a living. “They keep taxing us under different names. It’s becoming impossible to survive, and the constant fear is unbearable,” one young resident shared.

Meanwhile, in Taunggyi, which remains under the control of both the junta military and the PNO militia, authorities have been seizing unregistered vehicles since March 5. Reports indicate that these vehicles are being permanently confiscated, with no opportunity for owners to retrieve them.

The combined impact of forced recruitment, heavy taxation, and arbitrary confiscations has created a climate of fear and instability across the region. As the PNO tightens its control, local communities are left grappling with the dual challenges of economic hardship and personal safety.

For now, the people of Shan State continue to endure these pressures, with little relief in sight.