No. 05 - 12/2005
07 December 2005

Human Rights

Hired cattle drovers shot  through their hearts

7 cattle drovers were shot to death by a Mongmit-based Light Infantry Battalion 348 last month, according to sources from northern Shan State.

The drovers came across a 45 men patrol led by Lt-Col Tin Ko Htut on 10 November between Loihseng and Kiuhsai villages in Mabein (Manpiang) township. The villagers in Kiuhsai said they heard the sound of gunfire in succession at about 15:00. 25 buffaloes and cows worth 9 million kyat (about $9000) that made up the herd were driven into the battalion command post by the patrol, they said.

"We notified the local military and police authorities after learning the news," said a relative of the victims from Manpiang's Koong Mark Kham village. "But they just shook it off."

One different version said the patrol in question was led not by its battalion commander Tin Ko Htut but by Lt Thurein Thein who reported on 29 November he had seized 20 contraband cows.

The following is the list of the 7 cattle drovers who were found dead with gunshot wounds in their left breasts:
        1.      Sai La Mawng (Shan), 42, Manwiang Long village
        2.      Sai Hsang Ai Tawng (Shan), 39, Manwiang Long village
        3.      Sai Kyaw Kyaw Naing (Shan), 29, Manwiang Long village
        4.      Aung Kya (Tai Leng)*, 30, Koong Markkham village
        5.      Myo Than (Tai Leng)*, 28, Koong Markkham village
        6.      Htun Lin (Tai Leng)*, 40, Koong Markkham village
        7.      Min Zaw (Tai Leng)*, 31, Nam Poong Poong village

*Tai Leng are Burmanized Shans.