30 May 2021
Major General Sao Khun Kyaw, the second-in-command of the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), was assassinated, stated SNA.
Major General Sa Khun Kyaw was assassinated on May 26 and died on the next day of May 27, according to Colonel Hsur Sai Tun, the SNA spokesman. “He was assassinated at close range. The assassin entered into our internal boundary. Major General was assassinated two days ago and he died on yesterday.”
He added that the other two SNA soldiers got injured during this assassination.
“The commander of the security forces and the security guard of Sao Khun Kyaw were hurt,” Colonel Hsur Sai Tun confirmed.
The assassin had not been detained and the other chain criminals would be hunted.
Colonel Hsur Sai Tun added that this assassination was not because of personal hatred upon Major General Sao Khun Kyaw. The enemy planned systematically for this assassination therefore they would take the revenge.
“It depends upon the performance of the enemy. There is no personal grudge. This is not the problem of personal affairs. This is related to the national affairs. We regard it as an evil act. We strongly condemn such evil thing. I want to say that we will revenge one day.”
SNA told that the death of Major General Sao Khun Kyaw has caused the serious damage upon Shanni National movement and the difficulties for the planning national affairs.
Major General Sao Khun Kyaw @ Than Chaung @ U Myint Soe, a native from Maw Han, Mohnyin, Kachin State, joined the armed struggle following the 88 Uprising and moved to Kachin Independence Army (KIA) territory.
And he was then appointed as the vice-chairman of the northern section of the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF-NB) in KIA territory and as the responsible person for military affairs.
After the KIA signed the ceasefire agreement with Myanmar government in 1994, he left the front with some soldiers and joined with Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) and tried to continue the armed revolution in Shan State National Army (SSNA) territory.
Myanmar Army put pressures upon the ceasefire signatories and later he joined the Restoration Council of Shan State and served as a colonel in the 241st Brigade.
In the end of 2005 and the very first days of 2006, he was arrested by Myanmar Army in Northern Shan State and sentenced in prison. After he was released under President Win Myint’s amnesty, he kept serving as a second-in-command of Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA). He left his wife Daw Mar Mar Tun and his two daughters.
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NMG