FFD confirms incident of conscript soldier assassinating regimental commander in Hpa-apun

It has been confirmed that the incident in which a new conscript soldier assassinated the regimental commander of the 19th Infantry Battalion, Major Kyaw Min Thant, who was advancing towards Kamaung Town in Hpa-apun Township, Karen State, by the State Administration Council's forces, is true, according to the Force for Federal Democracy (FFD). Major Kyaw Min Thant, the commander of the 19th Infantry Battalion, was assassinated by a new conscript soldier who had gained the trust of the State Administration Council's forces and was appointed as the regimental commander's bodyguard, taking advantage of the opportunity on June 21. "We have investigated and confirmed that the assassination incident is true. Therefore, we have made preparations for our security matters and for the response from the other side," Aung Aung, the deputy head of the FFD, told the Irrawaddy Times. After assassinating the regimental commander, the conscript soldier surrendered safely to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) along with other 20 soldiers from the column, along with weapons and ammunition. "I was worried that my brothers who would follow me would be caught. I have a gun and full ammunition, so when they came up and I was killing this regimental commander, and when they came up while I was preparing my belongings, I was ready to shoot. I was no longer afraid of dying. My main desire was to escape. With that thought, I tried and it worked out," said the conscript soldier who assassinated the regimental commander. After assassinating the regimental commander, the conscript soldier surrendered to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) along with other 20 soldiers from the column, along with weapons and ammunition. It is known that the new soldier, aged 33, was conscripted from his home on January 13 and was sent to the Hpa-apun front line after completing his conscription training. Photo – FFD