The ringleader of a robbery and kidnapping gang, Chan Dein, was seized and shot dead by the Tavoy District No. 2 Battalion of the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA), the armed wing of New Mon State Party (NMSP).
With his associates Chan Dein robbed and kidnapped people in the southern part of Ye Township, Mon State and the northern part of Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division.
On 7 July the MNLA’s No. 2 battalion went to Kyol-taung Camp, where Chan Dein’s group was based, about 7 miles away from the government’s Infantry Battalion No. 299 base, near Ko Mine Village. The MNLA troops arrested Chan Dein and were taking him to the NMSP headquarters when he tried to escape. As Chan Dein tried to run away he was shot dead.
An official from Tavoy District No. 2 Battalion said: “We heard news that Chan Dein’s men had gone back to Mam Aung village. We left our place at 2 AM and reached Kyol-taung Camp at dawn. We arrested Chan Dein while he was still asleep.”
The official continued: “Handcuffed, Chan Dein was taken to the headquarters. Before dark, because our men were tired, we took a short break. At that moment, Chan Dein tried to escape and upon running away, he was shot. He was shot in the head and then fell onto stones, right there. He was dead. It was around 6pm.
The official said that after Chan Dein was arrested, his men questioned him and seized ten types of weapons (guns), ammunition, a mobile phone and other materials.
The corpse of Chan Dein was taken to the Public Hospital, in Ye Town, on 8 July and an identity check was carried out that confirmed that the corpse was Chan Dein. According to government officials Chan Dein was buried in the Ye Town cemetery.
Chan Dein, aged about 50, was a member of the NMSP before the NMSP signed it’s first ceasefire agreement with the government. In 2001, he joined the Hongsarwatoi Restoration Party (HRP), which splintered from the NMSP.
In 2003, he surrendered and returned to the Tavoy District of the NMSP. However, soon after he again broke away from the NMSP.
Chan Dein then left the HRP [again], and became known for his criminal activities. With His men, he committed abduction, robbery and commandeering, in areas of southern Ye Township, Mon State, and in northern Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division.
In 2006 he executed over 10 people in his area of influence by decapitating them, a method of execution that became his signature.
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
