In Kawnglanghpu Township, Putao District, Kachin State, the junta and allied militias are forcing locals to serve as porters, transporting weapons and supplies.

Since early September, under the pretext of preparing to retake Lanse Village in Tsawlaw Township from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the junta and Tang Gu Tan militia have been coercing residents of Kawnglanghpu Township to work as porters.

On September 11, the militia summoned 20 villagers from the Chihtuhpan Village Tract in Kawnglanghpu Township to serve as porters.

“This is the first time Chihtuhpan has been forced to provide locals as porters. On September 11, 20 villagers were dispatched. The militia has threatened to enter the villages and arrest residents if they fail to meet its demands,” a local said.

The Chihtuhpan Village Tract comprises Chihtuhpan, Dikwaday, Hpizaw, Larkarkaw, Hpartar, and Luchidi villages. Locals suggested that after Chihtuhpan, Shingkawng Village could be next to have residents drafted as porters.

A Chihtuhpan villager condemned the forced sending of civilians to the frontlines unarmed, describing it as a purely brutal act.

“No one wants to go to the frontlines. We don’t want to be sent there anymore, especially without weapons to protect ourselves. We don’t want the militia using civilians as porters,” she told KNG.

Kawnglanghpu is situated near Myanmar’s northernmost tip. It is 132 miles from the district capital, Putao, and is remote with challenging travel conditions. It borders Naungmon and Machanbaw townships to the east, and KIA-controlled Tsawlaw and Sumprabum townships to the south.

Locals said Lanse Village in Tsawlaw Township is a priority target for the Tang Gu Tan militia to retake due to its rich gold reserves and proximity to Kawnglanghpu.

Kawnglanghpu residents told KNG that they have heard reports that not only locals from Kawnglanghpu but also those from Naungmon are being forced to serve as porters and sent to the frontlines.

Putao District comprises five townships: Putao, Kawnglanghpu, Naungmon, Machanbaw, and Sumprabum. The district capital, Putao, is 218 miles from Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State.

Of these townships, Sumprabum is under KIA control, while the remaining four are controlled by the junta and allied militias.