The murder case in Sagaing region’s Yinmabin has become a much talked about news once again in recent days. It also served as an image which tarnishes the revolution or a case to take lessons from. This is a case which became a hot topic last March of the year 2022.
On March 14 of 2022, 63 local defense forces issued a joint statement concerning the case. It was stated that YMB PDF led by captain Thanmani and his subordinates were threatening, torturing, arresting, robbing and killing local people.
There are five confirmed murder cases amongst them and a total of 21 were murdered – 4 civilians from Zeetaw (North) village on 27/10/2021, 4 civilians, 1 defense leader and 5 defense members in Larpoet village on 26/11/2021; 1 civilian in … village on …; 1 support man from Mingin township on 27/1/2022; 3 civilians and 2 defense members from Chinpone village on 2/3/2022, it was said in the statement.
According to civil investigations, the suspects of the crime are:
1. Yinmabin Captain Thamani (@) Tha Pyay Aye Sayadaw – founder patron
2. Captain Oo (@) Captain Htut Khaung – regional commander
3. U Aung (@) U Aung Myat Thu – territorial organization official
4. Captain Galon (@) Nyant Win – commander of Battalion (2)
5. Ko Myint Kyaing 9 commander of battalion (3)
6. Saya San (@) Saya San Lin Kyaw – commander of battalion (4)
7. Captain Zero (@) Kyaw Thu – company commander of battalion (1)
8. Captain Phone Htet (@) Taik Kaung – company commander of battalion (3)
9. Min Thu Aung – unit commander of battalion (3)
10. Zaw Latt – unit commander of battalion (3)
11. Maung Oo – unit commander of battalion (3)
12. Ye Lay – soldier under battalion (3), and
13. Ka Paing Ko Sein Khaing – support man.
These ranks are at the time of the incidents and there could be some difference as the current YMB PDF constitution has changed, said in the joint statement of the 63 local defense groups. Similarly, on March 14, the Central Committee of Inquiry into Military Crimes of the Ministry of Defense of NUG also reported that it was investigating war crimes.
During trails of war crimes, those accused of committing the war crimes would be temporarily suspended from military service on short notice as necessary by the Defense Ministry issuing directions. Plus, the Central Commission of Inquiry into Military Investigation will, in accordance with the law, take effective actions against any organization or person who commits the crime so that no innocent civilians would be affected.
For the purpose of serving justice for the victims and carrying out the rule of law concerning the military cases which have emerged during the civilian resistance, the Ministry of Defense of NUG formed the “Central Commission of Inquiry into Military Investigation”.
The commission was formed with the lead of the Deputy Defense Minister of the Ministry of Defense at the 36th Meeting of the Defense Ministry held on December 3, 2021. It has since been encouraged by the addition of officials from NUG justice department, CDM justice staffs, legal experts, and complaints and cases submitted are being investigated.
If necessary, district level investigation commissions will be formed in regions where cases occur and the crime offenders will be handled both in accordance with the military justice system and civil justice system, it was reported.
Yinmabin district began its resistance on April 2 of 2021. Following crackdowns on peaceful protests, the United Villages Force (UVF) was formed with over 80 villages. Captain Thanmani is a prominent leader. UVF originally consisted of the Hero Tiger, Saya San group from Kapaing village and Captain Naga group from Pale.
Later, due to disagreements with Captain Thanmani, the Hero Tiger separately stayed in Larpoet village. Captain Naga’s group from Pale region also joined with the Hero tiger group in Larpoet village. The leader of Yinmabin PDF, Tha Pyay Aye Sayadaw U Thaw Paka (@) Captain Thanmani is a prominent leader of the 2007 Saffron revolution as well.
He, along with Sayadaw Min Thu Nya (@) King Zero (@) U Isthiria and U Pyin Nyar Thiri, currently in Australia, formed The Best Friend Library and carried out several political activities as a Mandalay-based Underground Monk Group. When the All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA) was founded on September 9 of 2007, The Best Friend Library was also a member of the ABMA, said Saffron Sayadaw U Gambira (@) Ko Nyi Nyi Lwin.
“Back then, he was in Germany. He was trying while living in Germany. The Best Friend Library they founded was in Myanmar and it was Mandalay-based. U Thaw Paka, called Captain Thanmani, had conducted several activities of Myanmar since before the 2007 Saffron revolution. Amongst the activities, the one prominent in the media was him walking from Mae Sot Bridge to Bangkok in 2006. For liberation from the military dictatorship,” said Ko Nyi Nyi Lwin.
Due to his political activities since 2007, Captain Thanmani (@) U Thaw Paka was dismissed from the Mandalay Sangha University and he went to Germany. He held campaigns for Myanmar around countries including Germany and he also regularly supported The Best Friend Library which he co-founded, continued Saffron Sayadaw U Gambira (@) Ko Nyi Nyi Lwin.
“In the 2007 Saffron Revolution, I had to run due to arrests from SMI and SB. Running and hiding here and there. At last, I ended up at Captain Thanmani’s sister’s home. There I had interviews with the media. That’s one. There was also a regular talk with Captain Thanmani every night,” he said.
Regarding the Yinmabin murder, captain Thanmani has initially said, “It’s true that some subordinates, young people under me have committed murders as they have accused. Regarding the first murder of 10 people, I was informed that 4 people had been captured. Then, I ordered that they be detained,” he answered the media.
A group of 6 people had carried out a mine attack on captain Thanmani’s people to save the detained four. When they saw them again, it was learnt that they were angered and bore grudges against each other, Tha Pyay Aye Sayadaw said.
In addition, only the order to detain the captured 4 was given and no command was issued, as they have accused, for the killing of 21 people, he said. And he added he was ready to take the responsibility if the NUG Ministry of Defense would punish him as it was committed by his subordinates.
In the report by the Central Commission of Inquiry into Military Crimes of the NUG Defense Ministry on March 26 also, it was stated that those who murdered 6 Larpoet villagers including Ko Htike Maung and 4 others of Yinmabin township were some of the subordinates of captain Thanmani.
The ten were 6 members of Hero Tiger PDF, 2 firefighter comrades, a driver, a young man who came to assist a firefighter comrade injured on the leg. The case was said to be due to misunderstanding and grudges between two local defense forces.
The Central Commission of Inquiry into Military Crimes investigated captain Thanmani, 11 members of the victims and 8 other witnesses, and the interim report and the findings were reported to the NUG on March 17. And the investigations are being continued with remaining suspects and witnesses.
Even though captain Thanmani had taken part in the Spring Revolution Interfaith Network as a member since it was first founded, he no longer attended the meetings after this incident occurred, and he has been permanently cancelled from the network as his actions are outright against the standards upheld by the network, the network stated on April 3.
“The case (complaint on financial issue) was discussed with U Zawana from the US, Ashin Htawara from Norway, Sayadaw U Istharia (@) Min Thu Nya, Uzin, and Sayadaw U Thaw Paka (@) Captain Thanmani. It was resolved with pledges. After that, there was a pro-military rally held. In their (captain Thanmani’s) place that year. There was a family who withdrew money in Monywa from Yinmabin. They were accused of joining the pro-military rally and arrested,” Sayadaw U Wayama from the Spring Revolution Interfaith Network said.
The ground information and records regarding them were sent to the Ministry of Defense of the NUG and the CRPH, and several meetings were held with concerned officials from the Defense Ministry and they were actively cooperating to bring about justice, according to the Spring Revolution Interfaith Network.
“With regards to the arrest, the PDF said the guys were withdrawing money as usual. The 6 PDF went to bail for them and they got arrested. And they didn’t come back. We had no idea how and where to find them. We didn’t hear they were killed either. Concerned families and organizations present letters to this network. The network also held discussions and reported to the defense ministry,” he said.
It was found that Saya San, official of Yinmabin Local Defense Force’s battalion (4) and group based in Kapaing village were the main culprits and Ko RPG (@) Ko Aung Zaw was in detainment at the time of the incident and is believed to be well aware of the murder, NUG Defense Ministry stated on September 12.
Saya San, an official of battalion (4), who is regarded to be the main responsible person for the case is also a one-sided accusation and no such crimes were committed, he answered the media.
“As far as I can think of, there are differences in distributions and I think there are competitions between revolution forces due to personal reasons. In distributional differences, there will be uneven amount of weapon distribution. Uneven amount of support received. So, these differences need to be addressed as well, and the rules and regulations should be strongly established so that there is no handling of personal affairs using weapons,” said a CDM captain, Victor.
The number of people murdered reported by the concerned family members, local residents and concerned People’s Defense Forces to the Ministry of Defense of the NUG was 21, and the statement by NUG on March 26 and September 12 said a total of 10 – 6 from Larpoet village including Ko Htike Maung and other 4.
Regarding possible consequences if these cases cannot be resolved, “It can linger the revolution. But it should also be noted that the percentage is very small. Out of over 800 PDF, LDF PaKaPha groups, it only occurred at Yinmabin and Wetlet. So, the proportion is very little. Once any friction occurs between close groups, I think it should be presented to the NUG first instead of handling it with weapons,” said CDM captain, Victor.