| Country: | Myanmar (Burma) |
| Details of Formation: | The Swan Arr Shin (a.k.a. Phythu Swan Arr Shin) is first mentioned in May 2003, but there are no details when exactly it was formed. The PGM seems to be organized and created on the local level wherever it is necessary to fight people from the opposition, especially the National League for Democracy. |
| Details of Termination: | After the new government led by President Thein Sein was sworn in on 30 March 2011, Swan Arr Shin was reportedly re-consolidated and formed as the People's Security Force. However, there is no evidence for this group and its activities. |
| Purpose: | The main function of the group was the suppression and breakup of protests, and the repression of political opponents generally. The group sometimes assisted the police in operations other than combating demonstrations. |
| Organisation: | -- |
| Weapons and Training: | The group was trained in riot control by the military and is reported to have been armed with sticks, brooms and hoes. |
| Size: | -- |
| Reason for Membership: | -- |
| Treatment of Civilians: | Civilians were attacked by the group, with protestors as the main targets. People were injured, intimidated, threatened, verbally harrassed and arrested by the PGM. |
| Other Information: | The group seems to be funded by Union Solidarity and Devel Assoc. to which it is closely connected. There are local reports in 2014 and 2015 that the Swan Arr Shin is active again. For instance, in the beginning of March 2015 there are reports about Swan Arr Shin members being used to terminate public protests. While a presidential spokesperson denied this, a regional Chief Minister did not contradict statements that police drafted Swan Arr Shin members for support and said it was legal to do so under Myanmar criminal law. But the group, who is wearing red armbands with the Burmese word for “duty”, was reported to be put together by local ward administrators to attack student protesters. |
| References: |
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD. Wikipedia. “Myanmar National Education Law 2014.” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Myanmar_National_Education_Law_2014&oldid=1081189331 Wikipedia. “Saffron Revolution.” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saffron_Revolution&oldid=1085479370 |