Pro-junta paramilitary forces in southern Shan State are escalating coercive recruitment and financial extortion, exacerbating tensions in conflict-affected communities, according to local sources.

In northern Ywangan Township, the Pyu Saw Hti militia, a group aligned with Myanmar’s military council, has been pressuring villagers into military service while imposing mandatory monthly payments. Since early June, militia members have openly brandished weapons while preparing for the 15th Civil Service Training Course, threatening residents with forced conscription.

“They’re compiling recruitment lists but refusing to disclose names,” a Ywangan resident told SHAN. “They claim people will flee if warned in advance, so when soldiers arrive, they’ll simply arrest those listed.”

Beyond forced recruitment, villagers are being extorted for 700,000 kyats (≈$157) per month as a collective “group fund,” with each household required to contribute at least 2,000 kyats. Many say the payments are unsustainable, yet refusal risks severe repercussions.

Similar tactics are unfolding in Loilem District, where authorities are issuing mandatory draft summonses. In Panglong Township, young men are being ordered to report for conscription, with threats of reprisals against families if they resist or flee.

“I received a summons today, if I don’t comply, my name goes into a replacement lottery,” a Panglong resident said. “There’s no escape. If I run, my family could face retaliation.”

A notice from the Panglong Ward Administration Office orders all men aged 18–35 to appear for a conscription ballot on June 22. Meanwhile, in Loi Lem and Mong Tong towns, draft lists are already being enforced, with officials warning that evaders will face legal action.

The dual pressures of forced recruitment and systemic extortion are deepening instability across Shan State, leaving civilians trapped between financial ruin and involuntary military service. As junta-aligned forces expand their operations, displaced families and at-risk youth face increasingly dire choices.