A Pyu Saw Htee member named Ko Ko, who was assisting the military council’s illegal election efforts in Nyaunglebin Township, Bago Region, was shot and killed during an arrest operation by the 9 Stars Underground resistance group on September 18. The individual, who resided in Ta Oo village, was confirmed to be working towards implementing the military council’s illegal election. The resistance forces went to arrest him at his home, and while being escorted to the outskirts of Ta Oo village, Ko Ko attempted to resist using a hand grenade from his bag, resulting in forces opening fire and killing him on the spot.
Items seized from the deceased included a phone, a wallet, 40,000 kyats in cash, an ID card, and a military-issued hand grenade. Investigation revealed that Ko Ko had been collaborating with Captain Kyaw Hlaing from Madauk town, extorting money from fishermen operating in the Sittaung River, demanding 200,000 kyats from each motorboat owner, and illegally collecting 35,000 kyats per head of cattle from displaced civilians. These activities had been significantly impacting the local population’s livelihood and security.
The 9 Stars Underground leader, Mwe Pwar, explained that their original intention was not to kill Ko Ko, but rather to interrogate him and release him with a final warning. However, the situation escalated when he initiated resistance against the forces, leading to the fatal shooting. Furthermore, the resistance group has issued a warning that they will continue to target military informants, administrators, and collaborators who are oppressing civilians in the eastern part of Bago Region, identifying them as legitimate military targets in their ongoing operations against the military council’s network of civilian suppression.
