Burma Army IB. No. 105 killed innocent boy

An innocent civilian teenage boy, Htun Sein, was shot dead by the Burmese Army’s Infantry Battalion No. 105, based in Sarhmaw, under Northern Regional Military Command, sources from the family said.

The unarmed boy was fired upon at a paddy field near Pang Sak Village, in Manje (Mansi) Township, in Manmaw (Bhamo) District, on August 11 between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. local time, by Military Column-2, led by Captain Zaw Nyo Myint Oo, said family sources.

The hearing impaired boy was shot at as an enemy by Burmese soldiers when he ran from them in fear. The fearful boy was followed and gunned down by Burmese soldiers- who ignored the boy’s grandmother’s pleas, said villagers.

The father of the 15-year old boy is Mauk Kham and they lived in Tong Po Lwe Village, close to Pang Sak. The event occurred when the Burmese military column was on its way back to its base in Mong Hkawng, added villagers.

Military Columns 1 and 2, under IB 105, led by Deputy Battalion Commander, Major Myo Min Htet, have fought against Kachin Independence Army (KIA) troops under Battalion No. 12, in Mong Hkawng area, in Manje Township, KIA officials in the area said.

The villagers said the government has not taken any action yet against the troops from Military Column-2 who killed the innocent boy.

United Nations Human Rights Special Rapporteur, Mr. Tomas Ojea Quintana, is visiting Burma between August 21 and 25th and has met with government officials and is expected to meet pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Burma has been widely criticized for frequent human rights abuses throughout the international community.

Over 18 Kachin women have been raped and six of those were killed by Burmese soldiers since the military clashes with the KIA began on June 9, according to a report by the Thailand-based Kachin Women’s Association (KWAT).

The war has produced over 30,000 Kachin IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons). Most of them have fled to the KIA’s controlled areas near the China border. Some have been sheltered in churches and by relatives in the main towns in Kachin State.

The IDPs say they are fleeing from the acts of rape, torture and being forced to work as military porters by the government troops. Human rights advocates argue Burmese soldiers have committed such acts for decades.