The military council announced on the evening of June 5 that they have arrested 16 civilians, including a 6-year-old child, claiming they were involved in the assassination of retired Brigadier General Choe Thun Aung in Mayangone Township, Yangon Region on May 22. The incident occurred when urban guerrilla fighters from the Golden Valley Warriors shot and killed Brigadier General Choe Thun Aung, a key military council figure who had received the Wunna Kyaw Htin title from Min Aung Hlaing himself in 2023, in front of his residence.
The deceased Brigadier General Choe Thun Aung was teaching Internal Security & Counterterrorism and International Relations courses at the National Defense College (NDC). Being a crucial figure in the military council, Deputy Military Leader Soe Win had put intense pressure to arrest those responsible for the assassination. The military council’s announcement named 16 people as suspects, including a 6-year-old child, in connection with Brigadier General Choe Thun Aung’s death.
The Yangon-based Golden Valley Warriors urban guerrilla force expressed sympathy for the innocent civilians and stated that their members were safe, condemning the military council’s false accusations against a 6-year-old child. A CDM teacher analyzing the military council’s announcements noted that they appear to be fabricating stories involving children, taxi drivers, sidecar drivers, and CDM doctors. The pattern of arrests suggests these are arbitrary detentions meant to create fear rather than legitimate investigations.
A resistance member pointed out discrepancies in the military council’s announcement, noting how they are using a 6-year-old child as a suspect to intimidate resistance fighters. He highlighted inconsistencies between the CCTV footage showing a bicycle with two silver batteries and the military council’s announcement describing a bicycle with three white batteries. The inclusion of CDM participants in the list of suspects appears to be an attempt to threaten civil disobedience movement members. The military council’s announcement shows clear signs of fabricated charges against innocent civilians, including construction workers from nearby sites, in what appears to be a response to pressure from superior officers.
