Myanmar transforms ethnic minority armies into border guard forces

Yangon - Myanmar's military junta has persuaded two ethnic minority armies to transform themselves into 'border guard forces,' an important step toward holding a peaceful general election next year, state media claimed Wednesday. Ceremonies presided over by Myanmar generals were held Sunday to officially convert the armies for the Kachin ethnic minority in the northernmost state of Kachin and the Kayah ethnic group in the eastern state of Kayah, The New Light of Myanmar reported. All the new border forces would receive salaries, uniforms and other benefits afforded to the Myanmar military, the government mouthpiece said. They were the first of 37 semi-autonomous minority group militias to agree to turn themselves into border guard forces under the command of the regime instead of local leaders. It was not clear whether all members within these two groups had agreed to join the guards. Under the 2008 constitution, all ethnic minority armies, which the junta calls 'ceasefire groups,' must be turned into border guard forces as part of preparations for a general election planned next year to usher in what the junta has called 'discipline-flourishing democracy.' The ethnic minority groups are to also be encouraged to set up political parties to contest the polls, to be held on an unspecified date next year. In August, the army occupied the Kokang region in Shan State in northern Myanmar after Kokang leaders opposed efforts to transform their 1,500-strong army into a 'frontier force' under government control. The attack on the Kokang was seen as a warning to other ethnic groups to heed the junta's demands. The military junta signed ceasefire agreements with 37 ethnic minority insurgent groups two decades ago. Those jungle forces were allowed a measure of autonomy in their traditional territories and permitted to keep their weapons. There are fears that the largest ethnic groups, such as the Wa, would join with other forces that have never signed ceasefires with the government, such as the Karen and Shan, in openly opposing the junta's efforts to bring them to heel before the planned elections.