The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) group was mainly arresting and recruiting ethnic Shan and Ta'ang youths who had returned from working in the Laukkai area in Shan State (Northeast), said Major General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the State Administration Council.

He made the comment during a briefing on the recruitment of soldiers by the MNDAA group.

"There are people who go to work in Laukkai. We received information that when they returned, MNDAA would abduct young people between the ages of 15 and 40 and recruit them as soldiers. We know that mainly the Shan people and Ta'ang are being recruited, '' Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said.

As a result of the armed conflict between the Myanmar military and the Northern Alliance that started on October 27, migrant workers who went to work in the Laukkai area are reportedly returning home.

The SAC spokesman said: "They are claiming democracy and federalism, but what they are doing towards utter destruction. In addition to the activities that mainly affect transportation and the people's economy, they are also conducting forced recruitments of soldiers. We, the entire people, have fight against them.”

He added that the ethnic areas would face the return of warlordism, where weapons are used to intimate and oppress, if such actions are not prevented.