Two members of the Tai-Leng Nationalities Development Party have been shot dead in separate incidents in Kachin State’s lucrative jade mining town Hpakant. The party chair believes the murders were politically motivated, and accused the Kachin Independence Army of orchestrating the attacks.
U Sai Htay Lwin was shot and killed at his home on October 5 by assailants who posed as jade dealers, according to neighbour Ko Nay Linn Sein.
“Two people came that evening to U Sai Htay Lwin’s home for jade trading,” he said.
“U Sai Htay Lwin met them along with his three brothers. Later, one of the two guys left the house and seemed like he was about to get on his motorcycle. The other guy was still in the house and moved to the door. U Sai Htay Lwin offered him a drink, but the guy turned and fired one shot. U Sai Htay Lwin fell to the floor and then another four shots were fired,” Ko Nay Linn Sein said.
He arrived at the house an hour later after receiving a phone call from one of the victim’s brothers.
Executive party member Ko Kan Sat was shot in his car the following day while driving to a monastery with his wife, according to a police report. Two strangers on motorcycles waived the car to stop and then shot Ko Kan Sat. His wife escaped unharmed.
TNDP chair U Sai Htay Aung told The Myanmar Times he believed the shootings were politically motivated and has already filed a complaint with the Union Election Commission. Police have also initiated murder investigations.
“There is only one armed group who could do this,” said U Sai Htay Aung, referring to the Kachin Independence Army.
The deputy head of the Hpakant township police force, U Khin Mg Tun, said the investigators are still interviewing witnesses and have not yet identified any suspects.
Colonel Kun Naung from the KIA Technical Advisory Team and U Daung Khar, a spokesperson for the KIO, did not return requests for comment.
Members of the KIA told a local radio station that the murder accusations were false and instead blamed local businesspeople.
But TNDP members said the party and the armed rebels have already met to discuss the case.
“Our chairman and the KIA’s General Gun Maw met. They talked about the peace and [Gen Gun Maw] said he will watch out for his men,” said U Sai Win Phay, a candidate for the Shan ethnic affairs minister position in Mandalay Region.
The TNDP released a statement last week calling on the government to launch an investigation into the killings. It also accused the KIA of a range of crimes, including extortion and setting bombs off around the jade mines.
Several people, including officials, declined to comment about the cases, deeming them too politically sensitive.
“Some Hpakant residents said they wanted to hold a protest. We don’t want to go against the will of the people, but there is an election. So for the first step, we will submit a letter to the KIA requesting they don’t do that again,” said U Sai San Wai from the Shan Ethnic Affairs Society of Kachin State.
