Locals demand accountability from perpetrators in the killing of DNDP party vice-chairman and businessman in Ywangan

Photo – U San Tint, the DNDP vice-chairman who was shot and killed. Locals are demanding that the perpetrators take responsibility for the abduction and killing of the vice-chairman of the DNDP party and a businessman in Ywangan Township, southern Shan State. (Social Network) Raung Ni (July 16) Mizzima. It has been learned from locals that an armed group abducted and shot dead a total of two people, including the vice-chairman of the DNDP party and a male businessman, in Nyaung Pin Khwa village, Ywangan Township, southern Shan State. The deceased have been identified as U San Tint, vice-chairman of the Danu Nationalities Democracy Party (DNDP), who resides in Myin Kyay Doe village, Ywangan Township, and U Aung Sein Win, who runs a pig farming business. The two men were in Nyaung Pin Khwa village on business when an armed group abducted and killed them around 7 p.m. on July 14. "They were killed in Nyaung Pin Khwa village. While they were in a house, an armed group tied their hands behind their backs and took them away. They were shot in the head in front of the house," said a local from Ywangan. He added that the reason for the killings is unknown. Myin Kyay Doe village, where the two deceased lived, is a village where troops of the military junta have been stationed. It is known that an armed group had previously sent warning letters to the two men, accusing them of being associated with the military junta. However, local sources in Ywangan say that it is not possible to confirm whether the current killings are related to that matter. "As far as we know, the current killings are controversial. It is difficult to label the deceased as informants. Since they are from areas and villages controlled by the military junta, they have to interact with the military junta. In my opinion, if you kill people because of differing opinions or stances, you would have to kill many people, and that is not a solution," he said. He stated that if the killings were due to being informants, there should be clear evidence and a statement explaining why they were executed. "The main thing is that we want accountability. If the reason for the killings is investigated, it will not be enough to say it is related to the SAC (State Administration Council)," he continued. Another local said, "We need to re-evaluate the mistakes and correct actions taken in the early part of the month. Also, in this incident, we are Danu ethnic people and are engaged in nationalist activities, so political activities of the party are also politics based on their stance." Ywangan Township is an area where forces such as the Danu PDF Battalion 1003 and the Danu State National Defense Force (DSNDA) under the National Unity Government (NUG) are active. As of today (July 16), no statement has been issued by any armed organizations in the region regarding the killing of the DNDP party member and the man. "The locals are confused about what to fear. The SAC and Pyu (militia) are one thing, the NUG's elimination of informants is another, and then there are robberies in between, making things complicated," said a local woman from Ywangan. Locals say that in Ywangan Township, Danu Self-Administered Zone, southern Shan State, civilian killings have been on the rise since the military coup, and in most cases, the perpetrators are not clearly identified. Locals say that some killings are due to informing the military junta about defense forces, while others are due to personal grudges. Editor: Aung Kyaw Phyo