The Information and Communication Officer of Pekon PDF Battalion 1006 has announced that they will cooperate with relevant organizations to investigate the truth behind the shooting deaths of a resident monk and a civilian in Aung Taing village, Nar Hi village tract, Pekon Township, Karenni State. The incident occurred around 4 PM on March 4, when an armed group shot and killed a resident monk from the Shan monastery in Pekon town and a civilian at Aung Taing village in the Nar Hi village tract area of Pekon Township.
Regarding the incident, the PDF battalion official explained that because it occurred within their controlled territory, people have misunderstood the battalion’s involvement. However, the battalion has clearly stated that they have no connection to this incident, and all members from the battalion commander, deputy commander, down to the rank-and-file soldiers have sworn on their lives that they did not commit such an oppressive act. The battalion emphasized that the monk was known to deliberately avoid associations with the military and had earned strong public support, having provided assistance to internally displaced persons in the area.
The PDF battalion has stated they will work with civilian administration bodies to investigate the case and take action against the perpetrators. They view this incident as a possible attempt to create discord between the PDF battalion and the public during the ongoing revolution. The battalion has strongly emphasized that they will not accept any justification for violence against unarmed civilians under any circumstances. They have committed to continuing their cooperation with relevant organizations to ensure justice is served and the truth is revealed about this incident.
The statement further clarified that the battalion will assist in all necessary aspects of the investigation to identify those responsible and their motives. If credible evidence and justification are not provided by any group claiming responsibility, the battalion will consider this an act of oppression against unarmed civilians. The PDF has emphasized that this incident occurred during the ongoing revolutionary period and they reject any attempts to create misunderstanding between revolutionary forces and the public. They have committed to working with civilian authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and appropriate action against those responsible for this violence against civilians.
