Related to the fatal shooting incident between Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 331 commander and his deputy Tachilek, the commander of the city’s operations command has been called to Kengtung by the Triangle Region Command for further interrogation, said news sources close to Tatmadaw.
“Col Kyaw Aung is now in Kengtung. The case has been handled by the Triangle Region commander himself. Maj Gen Thaung Aye, inspector general from the Ministry of Defense is still in Tachileik. Arrest, interrogation and investigation are still going on. The police chief and deputy police chief from Tachileik Police Department are also not spared. One of the police officers was lucky because he has been away for a training,” said the local sources close to the army families in Tachileik.
On 28 February, Tachileik based LIB331 commander Lt-Col Zayyar Win was accidently shot to death at by his deputy following arguments relating to the seized illicit drugs, unlicensed vehicles and other forms of bribery.
“All the top ranking army officers, to the lowest ranking of sergeant in the army were interrogated. As to what punishment will be given to those arrested are not yet known at the time of reporting,” said sources from the Tatmadaw families’ circles.
It is reported that early in February, 700 packages of methamphetamines were seized from local drug dealers at Sampu, Mongphong tract in Tachileik by the LIB331 together with a police unit.
The value of the seized methamphetamines (yaba) is estimated at 630 million baht, equivalent to 21.72 million U.S dollars’ value at the local market. It is said that Col Kyaw Aung alone had taken for his share as many as 200 packages (180,000,000 baht or 6 million US dollars’ value) out of 700 packages of methamphetamines. However, 400 packages of methamphetamines are still missing,” said a person who is familiar with the army officers.
Col Kyaw Aung was said to have assumed his duty in Tachileik less than one year ago.
