Sai Sarng Khur, 54, was shot at around 3.30 p.m. while returning home from a ceremony in the town for graduating high-school students, said an eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

“Sai Sarng Khur was shot near his house,” explained the eyewitness. “A man approached and shot four times into his body while another man waited on a motorcycle. Then they drove away. Sai Sarng Khur was rushed to Namkham Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.”

His neighbour, Ai Sai, told Shan Herald that Sai Sarng Khur (also known as Sai Maung Hliang) had been an active person, working tirelessly for the community, and was also involved with the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) in Namkham Township.

Sai Yi Phoo, the SNLD deputy in Namkham, said that Sai Sarng Khur was a good person, who was always dedicated to social issues in the area.

“This kind of thing should not have happened to him,” he said.

Nang Aye Yae, a Shan language teacher, echoed the sentiment, noting that Sai Sarng Khur was active in Shan culture and literature, and that he helped teach Shan language across the state.

However, it was also claimed that Sai Sarng Khur had business connections with a local people’s militia, which included dealings in logging and coal mining. According to his neighbour, Sai Sarng Khur was also reputed to be involved with three armed groups: the Shan State South (SSS); the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA); and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA).

No suspects or direct motive for Wednesday’s shooting have been determined. Shan Herald has contacted Namkham authorities several times for comment but did not receive a reply.