It was learned from locals that a mentally ill man living in Ward 2, Kawng Hkar Township, Kutkhaing Township, Northern Shan State, was killed by the Kokang Army-MNDAA (Myanmar National Democratic Army) troops and buried the body.
43-year-old Zaw Sai, who suffered from mental illness, did not return to his home on March 25th when he went to Nam Hkaik Village, Hsenni Township, to collect rice paddy seeds. His family members searched for him. On April 1, his body was found buried between Hu Min Village and Se U Village, and he was cremated on April 2.
“He is the one who takes care of his mother and two children. He was not mentally ill before. He suffered a lot after his wife left him, and it happened like this. He is mentally ill, but he is a family man,” said a man close to the deceased’s family.
Some locals found out that Zaw Sai was killed by MNDAA soldiers.
Therefore, they complained to MNDAA and told them to take responsibility for the families who were left behind, but MNDAA refused to take responsibility.
“When locals went to complain about it, they (MNDAA) said that they would inform their superiors. Soon after, they replied that they could not take responsibility for the families because Zaw Sai stabbed two Kokang soldiers. Zaw Sai worked for many businessmen. Go and ask them. He does not dare to do bad things to others and cannot stay in a crowded place. I do not believe that he would do it,” said a friend of Zaw Sai.
He went on to explain that when the body of Ko Zaw Sai, killed by the MNDAA troops, was unburied, his hands were tied behind his back and placed in a gunny sack together with three baskets of rice seeds (around 6kg) and a religious book.
MPA contacted MNDAA spokesperson Lee Kyar Win about Zaw Sai being killed by MNDAA soldiers via Telegram, but he did not respond.