Local USDA secretary assassinated

_{By Hawkeye/Hseng Khio Fah}
 
On Sunday evening, Kyaw Myint, 57, secretary of USDA in Namkham township, opposite China's Yunnan province, was shot at the temple of Nawngkhan monastery. He was hit on his chin and chest and died instantly. His funeral was held briefly in the evening.
 
As for the other two, Kyaw Sein, 45, an official from electricity department was wounded in his thigh while the other one U Than Hlaing, around 50, from the geological survey department was shot in his abdomen and arm. They were taken to the Namkham hospital's emergency ward for treatment.
 
The three of them, accompanied by 10 people, had urged people of Nawngkhan village tract 7 miles outside Namkham, to support the junta drafted charter in the upcoming 10 May referendum.  Six of the ten people who accompanied them were police officers.
 
"While the three unknown gunmen were shooting, they also shouted, 'If there is anyone who dares to move, all of you will be shot. Because we have already surrounded you'," quoted a villager who wishes to remain unknown.
 
Around 50 to 60 officials from Muse and Namkham went to the village, 2 hours after the shooting incident.
 
Kyaw Myint was said to have held a polling rehearsal with the people of Nawngkhan, Wanhawng and Zehai village tracts last week. But as the results were unsatisfactory, they had therefore called for a second rehearsal.
 
"There were different rumors about who those 3 gunmen were. Some said they were from the youth group of Namkham. Others say they could be members of the Shan State Army (SSA). There are even those who say they must be the local people who got fed up with the junta," said a local youth.
 
The 3 gunmen, who were among the villagers, fired at them at 15:45 while they were walking to the motorbikes after the meeting, which was attended by over 200 people.
 
Some people were saddened by the killing. "They should not kill the people. They should instead kill the Burmese junta," said one. Others were not disturbed. "Serves them right for serving the SPDC," said another one.
 
Sai Kyaw Myint, a native of Namkham was the owner of the Friendship guesthouse and was the secretary of USDA in Namkham township. Before, he used to be an official of road construction and worked at the Namkham Township Municipality. He was also one of the delegates who attended the regime organized National Convention which ended in September last year.