In Nat Htamin village of Min Hla Township, Bago Region, village administrator Thein Naing Soe was killed in a targeted attack by resistance forces for forcibly recruiting local youth into military service and extorting money from civilians who couldn’t afford to pay military service fees. The incident occurred on March 8 at approximately 11:45 AM when joint forces from Thayarwaddy District Battalion 3802’s Units 2 and 3, along with Min Hla Township People’s Defense Force, entered his residence and shot him three times in the head, resulting in immediate death.
The deceased administrator, also known as Tay Lay, had been actively involved in collecting forced military service fees from impoverished civilians. Those who couldn’t pay were handed over to the military for arrest. He was also known for providing false information to the military that led to the arbitrary arrest of innocent civilians. His confrontational attitude towards revolutionary forces and dismissive behavior towards their warnings ultimately led to this targeted operation. According to resistance officials, his actions had severely impacted the local community, forcing many residents to flee their homes and disrupting their livelihoods to the point where some faced starvation.
A spokesperson from the Thayarwaddy District PDF explained that the administrator had been repeatedly warned about his actions. The official stated, ‘He was forcing people into porter service for the military when they couldn’t pay the fees he demanded. His actions caused villagers to flee their homes, making it impossible for them to work and earn their living. When he heard that people had complained to the PDF about his actions, he brazenly challenged the resistance forces, showing complete disregard for the consequences.’ The elimination of the administrator was carried out in response to numerous complaints from local residents who had suffered under his oppressive administration.
Following this operation, Battalion 3802’s Unit 3 of Thayarwaddy District issued a statement announcing their intention to intensify operations against the military junta and its collaborators who continue to oppress civilians and resistance forces. They warned civilians to avoid proximity to military-affiliated individuals and infrastructure, as these would be targeted in upcoming operations. The resistance forces have pledged to continue removing such military pillars while ensuring the safety and security of civilian lives and property. This incident represents another example of the ongoing conflict between resistance forces fighting to protect civilian interests and those who collaborate with the military regime in oppressing the local population.
