The Karenni Civil Forces issued a statement on January 8 denouncing the explanation given by the Loikaw Township Management Committee over the arrest of five people for their illegal protest and warning the public not to engage in illegal activities.
Khu Pa Lu Reh, spokesperson of the Karenni Civil Forces, criticized the committee for failing to explain the Tatmadaw’s alleged killing of three Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) soldiers and one civilian on December 20, 2017 and filing charges against five protesters including Khun Ye Min Kyaw for staging a protest to demand the truth.
“The government and the Tatmadaw should hold official press conferences with transparency and accountability. They must release statements concerning the murder of three KNPP soldiers and a civilian. They shouldn’t focus only on the lawsuit under this Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law,” he told KIC News on January 9.
The Loikaw Township Management Committee announced on January 7 that five youths – Khun Ye Min Kyaw, Sitt Mone, Khun Bo Bo, Myo Hlaing Win, and Khun John Paul - have been charged with Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law for protesting without informing the local authorities on December 22.
The committee warned the public to avoid unlawful acts and cooperate in the state development within the law.
The Karenni Civil Forces, which comprises 21 Karenni civil society organizations, blamed the Township Management Committee for turning a blind eye to the truth and making instigations instead of solving the case. It demanded the committee to apologize to the five youths for blaming them and give guarantee to prevent similar killings and body disposals.
Local residents protested over the lawsuit against five youths in Loikaw on January 5 and the court will set down a decision on January 10, according to Khu Pa Lu Reh.
The state government told local media on December 27 that it has submitted the information it has obtained for the KNPP soldiers’ case to the union-level officials and the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) is investigating it by forming a tribunal. The KNPP also held a press conference on this issue on December 31.
The Kayah (Karenni) State-based ethnic parties and political forces released a statement on December 31 demanding fairness and transparency in the union-level investigation over the death of three KNPP soldiers.
