
Some 500 residents of Sagaing Region submitted a recent petition to the justice department of the publicly mandated National Unity Government (NUG) demanding that they release detained members of a local resistance group accused of attempted murder.
The March 9 petition was issued in response to the arrest of four members of an anti-junta group called the GZ Special Task Force after the February 17 shooting of U San, the leader of a People’s Defence Team, known as Pa Ka Pha, in Wetlet Township. He survived, sustaining an injury to his thigh after allegedly being targeted by snipers.
The anti-regime People’s Defence Force (PDF) chapter in Shwebo District—operating under the NUG—detained and questioned a total of 19 members of the GZ Special Task Force regarding the attack before releasing 15 of the individuals to be placed under watch in their respective villages by the Pa Ka Pha, which also serves the NUG’s defence ministry.
They charged the remaining four with the attempted murder of U San, placing them in the custody of the local People’s Security Team, which functions as police.
Details regarding the investigation into the four detainees remain unknown.
Nay Min Khant, the spokesperson of the independent support group for the resistance movement in Shwebo which organised the petition, told Myanmar Now that the charges were too severe.
“The section they are charged under is [attempted] murder. The Pa Ka Pha leader who was shot was only injured in his thigh. He is not in critical condition. We are bringing forward the voice of the people, as we think this is unfair,” said the spokesperson.
A woman from Wetlet Township told Myanmar Now on the condition of anonymity that she felt the NUG should hand down sentences to individuals found guilty of the crime only after the civilian government has reclaimed its power from the military regime.
“We signed the petition to release them because they are a group of people who are really working for the resistance,” she said.
Min Naung Khaing, the secretary of the NUG’s justice department, told Myanmar Now on Tuesday that he had received the locals’ petition and would look into the case to ensure it is “resolved effectively.”
An official from the People’s Security Team in Wetlet who is in charge of keeping the four resistance fighters detained said that as of Tuesday, he had not received any orders for further action, nor had any verdicts been handed down.
“We treat them well. We allow their family members and friends to visit them. There is nothing to worry about… We have not received any directions from above,” the official said, referring to directives from the NUG.
He also alleged that the accused had “admitted” to the crime.
Yet in the petition, which was seen by Myanmar Now, locals claimed that the detainees had been beaten and threatened into confessing.
Myanmar Now is unable to independently verify this information.