Ai Htark Nai (aka) U Naing Swae, a villager from Hpa Pien in Namkham Township had been tortured and shot to death earlier this month by local militia group and Burmese army, according to Palaung Women’s Organization (PWO), an exiled group based in Chiangmai, Thailand.

Panhsay People’s Militia led by Zhang Lu and Zhang Guoshing together with Lashio based Light Infantry Battalion 507 led by Maj Myat Tun Lin had been involved in the torturing and killing the said villager, PWO said.

The victim of local militia and Burmese army, Ai Htark Nai, is survived by his wife and 5 children age between 1 to 12 years old.

“People’s militias are for protecting the people, not for torturing and killing them. U Kyaw Myint (the militia leader) should not give guns to his men because they will continue to commit crimes,” PWO spokeswoman Lway Nway Hnaung said.

Panhsay Kyaw Myint is elected as MP for Shan State Assembly in 2010 elections. He leads a 400 strong people’s militia in Namkham township.

Panhsay Kyaw Myint and his group are involved in drug trafficking and crimes against local community in the areas but Naypyitaw did not take any responsibility to solve the problems, Lway Nway Hnaung said.

Thein Sein government came into power in 2011 and since has initiated many reforms in the country. The international community has rewarded the new government for its political development but nothing has changed in the countryside such as Panhsay Kyaw Myint controlled areas in Namkham Township. There are many crimes activities committed by his group in the area and there is no action taken from the Thein Sein government, Lway Nway Hnaung said. “Knowing the crimes and killings committed in the ethnic areas, the government has not taken action. It should also not turn a blind eye to druglords taking seats in the parliament. If the parliament refuses to take effective action, there will be nothing for people’s life but ruin.”