Residents of the Inle region in Yawnghwe (Nyaungshwe) Township, southern Shan State, have accused the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) militia—also known as the Pa-O National Army (PNA)—of demanding monthly payments of 500,000 Kyats (approximately USD 126) from villagers. Those unable to pay are allegedly being forced to join the militia and sent to the frontline.

According to local sources, the extortion began in early August and continued through November 8. Villagers who had previously fled clashes—including residents of Phayar Taung, Yay Pu, and Taung Po Kwe—reportedly returned home to find PNO troops imposing the monthly payment.

“We have been paying 500,000 Kyats a month for three months now. We don’t even earn that much monthly, so we collect whatever we can and hand it over to them,” a local man from the Inle region told SHAN. “Otherwise, we end up on the frontline, and we haven’t heard of anyone coming back after going there.”

Residents also claim that PNO troops have been forcing villagers to deliver food supplies to militia bases and confiscating motorboats owned by locals for military use.

When contacted by SHAN, Major Khun San Aung from the PNO’s Information and News Department strongly denied the allegations of extortion and forced recruitment.

“We are not calling them for military service; they join us of their own free will,” he said. “They participate out of awareness to defend their region. We are not collecting any money.”

Reports of abuse by the PNO have surfaced repeatedly in recent months. On September 2, Ko Aung Myo Win, a 42-year-old resident of Ma Gyi Seik village in Nyaungshwe Township, was allegedly detained by PNO members while traveling to Pin Nyae Kone village.

According to local sources, his family was asked to pay 10 million Kyats for his release. When relatives arrived to retrieve him, Ko Aung Myo Win was found severely injured and later died at the hospital.