Over 300 people, including human right activists, civil society organization workers and monks came together to pray for the two innocent villagers in Ye Town, southern Mon State, on Friday.
The vigil for the deceased, two fishermen shot dead by Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 280, took place at 4 PM, on April 8, at Shwe San Taw Pagoda in Ye Town. At the event, locals from across Ye Township, including Parlain region, Kyaungywa village, Lamine Town and Mawkanint Village were in attendance.
“The villagers in southern Ye Township continuously face human rights abuses. They are oppressed. We want the world to know about this. We want peace and justice here,” said Sayardaw Zanaka, as he addressed the objectives of the vigil.
Before the event, a press conference regarding the case of the two victims was held at 1 PM, at Mon Hall in Ye Town.
At the vigil, Ko Jimmy, director of Human Rights and Justice Initiative, participated and said that he joined the event as he believed that all ethnic groups in the country have equal rights. The respective authorities should work with transparency during the case for public knowledge.
Ko Jimmy added that his organization already reported the deaths of the two villagers to the Tatmadaw [army] chief and respective authority departments.
Specific divisions and battalions, township polices, township administrators and township supporting committees were invited to the press conference but were absent, according to Min Soe Thein, a member of the press conference organizing committee.
The objective of the press conference is to 1) inform the public that there is no security for the locals and their homes, 2) the Tatmadaw must take responsibility and solve the case with transparency, 3) Tatmadaw must help support the victims’ families until they are satisfied, and 4) to have Myanmar National Human Rights Commission conduct an investigation and disclose the case.
It is reported that Captain Zaw Myo Thet, of LIB No. 280, alleged shooter of the two villagers, is sued with article 302 by Kawsar Town Police Station on March 19.
On March 8, around 11:30 PM, Battalion Commander Phyo Wai Thwe, Deputy Battalion Commander Aung Ko Win and Captain Zaw Myo Thet of LIB No. 280, were involved in shooting two villagers from Makyee Chaungwa Village, southern Ye Township. The victims were fishermen U Moe and U Chit Soe, who were shot dead with knife wounds found on their bodies, according to organizers of the vigil.
