Two military council soldiers were killed in Htone Bo Township, Bago Region, when People’s Defense Force (PDF) members opened fire on them as they attempted to forcibly recruit civilians as porters. The incident was confirmed by an official from the Underground Guerrilla Force Unit 4 of Battalion 3802 in Thayarwaddy District. The deceased were identified as Warrant Officer Hla Kyaw and Sergeant Nyi Nyi Moe.
The incident occurred around 9 AM on August 7, 2023, when the two soldiers from Infantry Battalion 6 based in Teim Myut village, Htone Bo Township, were traveling by motorcycle towards Htone Bo-Tarsay area in civilian clothes. Their mission was to forcibly recruit local civilians as porters. Near Thapangyi Seik village, they encountered four PDF members who were returning on two motorcycles. The military council soldiers, mistaking the PDF members for ordinary civilians, attempted to stop them for forced porter recruitment.
The military soldiers began questioning the PDF members, not realizing their true identity. The PDF members, who had become suspicious of the soldiers’ behavior, took preemptive action and shot both Warrant Officer Hla Kyaw and Sergeant Nyi Nyi Moe in the head. Both soldiers died instantly at the scene. Following the incident, the PDF members seized several items from the deceased soldiers, including one hand grenade, 200,000 kyats in cash, one military ID card, one military service verification book, one national ID card, six license photos, and two mobile phones.
The Underground Guerrilla Force Unit 4 of Battalion 3802 in Thayarwaddy District has issued a statement declaring their continued commitment to targeting military council soldiers who harass and oppress local civilians and revolutionary forces. They have also warned civilians to avoid areas where military council personnel are present to ensure their safety. This incident highlights the ongoing conflict between resistance forces and the military council, particularly regarding the military’s practice of forcing civilians into porter service, which has been a long-standing human rights concern in Myanmar.
