Slain Kachin teachers deserve justice says 88' student leader

Mya Aye

Former political prisoner and famous '88 generation Student Leader Mya Aye says that there must be justice for the two slain teachers who were raped and killed in northern Shan state earlier this month. The alleged perpetrators are believed to be Burmese soldiers stationed in the area. The case has drawn widespread attention across Burma and around the world.

The bodies of Maran Lu Ra and Tangbau Hkawn Nan Tsin were found shortly after Burma army troops are alleged to have violently raped and then murdered the two young women on the evening of January 19th or in the early hours of the following day.

Mya Aye's comments were made during a funeral service held for the two girls in Myitkyina, the Kachin state capital. “We came here to show solidarity, we feel the same with Kachin people regarding the two murdered school teachers,” he said.

“If the government cannot provide life security and peaceful living for the public then they do not qualify as a government, so this case is totally the responsibility of the government,” Mya Aye added.

“The government should take full responsibility to bring to justice justice and give strong punishment to the perpetrators who committed this crime,” he said.

Thousands of people attended the funeral in Myitkyina, the Kachin state capital on January 23rd. Mya Aye was joined by other 88 generation student leaders from Rangoon including Pyone Chyo, Soe Htun, Nyi Lar Thein, San San Maw and Tin Zar Khaing. A delegation of women
from various Rangoon civil society groups also attended including Susana Hla Hla Soe.

The bodies of the two school teachers were carried from the headquarters of the Kachin Baptist Convention to a place about 10 miles away from the city, where a service was held. The women's bodies were later buried in Jaw Bum cemetery.

Women activists in Rangoon also held a service for the slain girls. About 30 people participated in the ceremony held at Maha Bandula Park on the morning of 23rd January.

Two days before the young women were murdered in Kawng Hka village troops from the Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 503 arrived in the village. Many footprints left behind by appeared to be soldiers boots were found next to the small home where the two girls’ bodies were found.