The United Wa State Army (UWSA) is facing accusations of forcibly recruiting young men for military training in Mong Ket village tract, northern Shan State, triggering widespread fear and displacement among residents and coinciding with the death of a local man under extreme stress.

On January 17, 2026, the UWSA summoned village elders from Wan Mak (Man Mat), Nam Ma, Nam Pawng, and Mong Ket village tracts to a meeting in Mong Ket, where officials presented administrative policies and demanded that communities provide 100 young men for upcoming military training.

Two days later, on January 19, the village head of Ho Lin village in Lashio Township relayed the recruitment order to residents, sparking panic throughout the community.

On January 20, a 40-year-old local man, Sai Lwak, reportedly took his own life. A resident familiar with the situation told SHAN that the pressure surrounding the recruitment demand had deeply affected villagers.

“Some people packed their bags and fled the very day they heard the news. Others have no money and simply don’t know where to go. Sai Lwak was the primary breadwinner for his family. When he learned that he was on the list for military training, he saw no way out,” the source said.

Local residents say this is not the first instance of coercive recruitment in the area. In 2025, villagers from Mong Ket were reportedly forced to attend UWSA-led militia training, which they described as physically exhausting and psychologically distressing, compounded by language barriers. Many reportedly fled the area soon after completing the training.

As a result, villagers say most young men have either gone into hiding or fled to avoid conscription, leaving behind primarily elderly residents.

“There are almost no young people left in Mong Ket; most fled because they are terrified of being forced to become soldiers. Now, only elderly residents, many of whom spend their days at monasteries, remain,” a local source said, adding that older residents also face mistreatment.

Mong Ket village tract lies approximately 60 miles from Lashio. During the early stages of Operation 1027, the Brotherhood Alliance seized a military commission base in the area. Since early 2024, the UWSA has expanded its administrative and governing presence there.

SHAN contacted UWSA external relations officer U Nyi Rang regarding the allegations of forced recruitment but had not received a response at the time of reporting.