Six Tatmadaw soldiers have been given a ten-year sentence each with hard labor on January 19 for killing three villagers from Mai Hkawng Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp in Mansi Township, Kachin State, according to Mai Hkawng residents.
On condition of anonymity, a resident of Mai Hkawng said the court martial of the 319th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB-319) based in Mansi made the sentences.
“The ruling was made [yesterday] at the 319th (LIB-319) military base. [each soldier] received a ten-year sentence with hard labor,” said the local resident.
The convicted soldiers - four officers and two non-commissioned officers - have also been sacked from the military services permanently.
“The ruling was made at around 4 or 5 pm [yesterday] evening. Each soldier was summoned and given a ten-year sentence with hard labor after investigating who was right or wrong. They have also been sacked from the military. They have been convicted for murder. The ruling was made after an investigation at the court martial,” said U Peter Bauk Naw, administrator of Mai Hkawng Village.
Battalion Commanding Officer Zayar Oo, Column Commander Captain Hlwan Moe Aung, Captain Kyaw Zin Myint, Captain Myo Thu Zaw, Lance Corporal Shine Htet Aung, and Private Phyo Ko Ko from Mansi-based LIB-319 received the prison sentences.
“All of them have been convicted for their crimes. We, the soldiers, must follow both the civilian law and the military law. The sentences have been given based on their crimes,” said a military official from LIB-319.
Maran Brang Seng, Nhkum Gam Awng, and Labya Naw Hkum from Mai Hkawng Village Catholic Displaced Person Camp went missing on their return from work on May 25, 2017. Their bodies were found buried three days later.
According to Mai Hkawng resident, the family members of the deceased men were satisfied with the judgment.
The family members of the deceased men, officials from the religious organization in Mai Hkawng Village, officials from the IDP camp, and department officials attended the court hearing.
“There was transparency in their action. In my opinion, there is rule of law because actions have been taken against the Tatmadaw personnel who committed such [crimes] against the public,” said the resident of Mai Hkawng.
However, the residents said they did not know which prison the convicted Tatmadaw soldiers were sent to.
The ruling has been made four months after the soldiers confessed the killing of three villagers from Mai Hkawng IDPs Camp.
