The leader of a people’s militia who shot and killed the deputy commander of the Waingmaw People’s Militia under the terrorist military council has escaped by plane with the assistance of Northern Command Chief Major General Aung Zaw Htwe, according to a complaint letter sent to Min Aung Hlaing. The incident occurred on July 8 at 4 PM when U Naw Li, chairman of the people’s militia, shot and killed U Aung Gam, deputy leader of the Lawayan/Ngwe Htoo People’s Militia based in Waingmaw Township, following an argument between the two men.
According to the complaint letter, the shooting was a premeditated assassination. Prior to the incident, former chairman U Naw Li arrived at the Waingmaw People’s Militia office conference room with about 30 militia members, claiming they were holding a meeting. He then ordered U Aung Gam and his group to enter the conference room without weapons. An argument broke out, leading to U Naw Li ordering the shooting of U Aung Gam. The shooting resulted in U Aung Gam’s death while U Naw Li was also injured in the incident.
Following the incident, on July 15, U Naw Li attempted to escape via aircraft from Myitkyina airport. Major General Nyunt Sein of the Waingmaw-based Lawayan Gwei Htoo People’s Militia (Local), along with the Waingmaw Township Police Station Commander and District Police Chief, went to Myitkyina airport to try to stop U Naw Li. However, U Naw Li managed to board the plane and escape after claiming that Northern Command Chief Major General Aung Zaw Htwe had granted him permission to fly.
People’s Militia Chairman U Naw Li is of partial Chinese descent and is known to operate various gambling operations, drug trafficking, and weapons trading in Myitkyina (Macauyan) village and Myitkyina city. According to Major General Nyunt Sein’s complaint to Min Aung Hlaing, U Naw Li has been operating with impunity through connections with military and police officials, paying them bribes. The complaint letter was sent on July 21, and no action has been taken on the matter as of yet.
