Civilians Shot Dead, Myanmar Police Ban Families Opening Cases

Myanmar police on guard at night. (Twitter / @ Ett89075034)

JAKARTA - Ko Tin Htut Hein (30), from Shwe Pyithar Township was shot in the head while guarding his neighborhood on Saturday last week. He was reportedly shot by police while questioning a vehicle violating curfews in his neighborhood.

Ko Tin Htut Hein's wife said the Myanmar Police had refused to open the case of her husband's shooting.

"The police station told my father-in-law not to open the case. There is no law. We are being intimidated. I want the truth. This is human life, not birds", he told The Irrawaddy.

Ko Tin Htut Hein's father said post mortem reports revealed the bullet had pierced the occipital bone in the back of the head and exited his son's right eye.

“When I told an officer I wanted to open a case, he said he would ask his supervisor and go to another room. I was left waiting for almost an hour, then a police lieutenant asked me to come into the room”, he said.

"He said no party was to blame for the incident and asked me not to open the case. He said the incident occurred during curfew and claimed environmental guards attacked the car with sticks and swords. I have asked the residents who are with my son they said they were just going out to see what was going on", he explained.

Another eyewitness said that this incident began with a clash with Myanmar military sympathizers over security measures in the Ko Tin Htut Hein neighborhood.

“When we make arrangements to protect our environment, they try to stop us. They ask who ordered the security arrangements. They did not accept our response and became aggressive”, said the witness.

Myanmar police then allegedly arrived and three shots were heard about 10 minutes later when Ko Tin Htut Hein died.

“There are two to three men in (police uniform). There are a customs vehicle and two armed soldiers", he added.

Previously reported, following the imposition of a curfew by the Myanmar military regime, related to anti-military coup demonstrations, the activities of civilians were limited from 8 pm to 4 am.

However, along with the release of more than 23 thousand prisoners on February 12, this was followed by the outbreak of riots in several areas where anti-military demonstrations were supported. As well as the presence of fake monks who were caught by residents committing violence against supporters of the demonstration, causing Yangon residents to secure the area by holding night patrols.