In Nat Htamin village of Minle Township, Bago Region, village administrator Thant Naing Soe was killed in a targeted attack by resistance forces for forcibly sending local youth to the military when they couldn’t pay military service fees. According to a spokesperson from the Thayawady District PDF, the incident occurred around 11:45 AM on March 8th when joint forces from Battalion 3802’s Companies 2 and 3, along with Minle Township People’s Defense Force, entered the administrator’s house and shot him. He sustained three gunshot wounds to the head and died instantly.
The deceased administrator had been forcibly collecting money from local residents under the pretext of military service fees. When impoverished families couldn’t pay these fees, he would force their young members to join the military. He was also known for providing false information about resistance forces to the military and had been openly challenging revolutionary forces with contempt. These actions ultimately led to the targeted operation against him.
According to a responsible official from the Thayawady District People’s Defense Force, the administrator’s actions had severely impacted local civilians’ livelihoods. Many residents were forced to flee their homes, while others became too afraid to go to their daily work, leading to widespread economic hardship with some families struggling to afford basic necessities. The elimination of the administrator was carried out in response to numerous complaints from local people about his collaboration with the military council and his oppressive actions against civilians.
Battalion 3802’s Company 3 of Thayawady District has issued a warning to civilians to avoid areas near military council forces and their supporters, as operations against them will be intensified. The statement emphasized that civilians should take necessary precautions for their safety and avoid traveling or residing near locations associated with military council activities. The resistance forces maintain their commitment to targeting those who actively support and enable the military council’s oppression of civilians.
