Family members and residents of Manping Village in Kutkai Township, Northern Shan State, are  planning to cooperate to make a formal requests to hold accountable the individuals responsible for the killing of a local man 38-year-old U Too Lwan

U Too Lwan was killed after being abducted from his residence in Manping Village by members of the MNDAA a Kokang armed group on June 6. The MNDAA members had claimed that they were taking him to repair a car, a person close to the family members told the KNG news agency.

A resident from Manping, who is acquainted with the family  shared, "The Kokang armed group took him to get the car fixed, but they later informed us that he had died because of his inability to quit drug use. We didn't believe their explanation. Upon examining the body, we discovered several injuries and signs of physical abuse. Despite the armed group's threats against inspecting the body, we managed to do so once it was brought back to the village."

The Kokang armed group notified the family that U Too Lwan had died due to drug use, approximately 16 days after his abduction. Additionally, they claimed to have provided the family with a sum of 3.5 million kyats as compensation for his death.

However family members and residents have expressed their intention to request a thorough investigation into the incident in order to uncover the truth. A local resident affirmed,"We intend to seek a comprehensive resolution to this issue by engaging the assistance of respected elders or relevant local authorities. Our goal is to uncover the truth and obtain a solution from their side. Now  when villagers and family members inquire about the matter, the Kokang armed group dismisses their concerns without any  seriousness discussion. They even resort to arrests and violence against those who persist in their questioning. Therefore, we plan to reach out to relevant local organizations and make a formal request for intervention."

In Kutkai township, the Kokang armed group (MNDAA) has been known to arrest, beat, and interrogate local people, with residents expressing concerns that innocent individuals are often killed in such incidents.

Hence, the local residents adamantly state their disapproval of any revolutionary group in the region that engages in threatening and killing innocent individuals under the pretext of being an armed revolutionary organization.

A resident of Kutkai expressed, "In the eyes of the public, they may claim to be acting in the interest of protecting the people. However the reality is that they are unable to ensure full security for the local population, causing us to once again fear their presence. Despite being armed, their actions lack the principles of honour and respect. It is evident that they lack the genuine spirit to safeguard the well-being of the public. Such actions should not be tolerated, as our people are already oppressed under the control of armed individuals."

In August last year, two men from Zup Awng IDP camp were released after being arbitrarily arrested and beaten by MNDAA members.

Since early 2021, the Kokang armed group (MNDAA) has maintained a presence near the Zup Awng IDP camp, engaging in the interrogation, arrest, and physical assault of individuals passing through the area. As a consequence, local residents have expressed their concerns about the prevailing lack of security in the region.

Despite repeated requests from the people, the Kokang armed group (MNDAA) has ignored regarded their pleas to relocate the camp away from the vicinity of the IDPs, and the camp remains in its current location.