Hong Kong News
Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Sunday, Jun 04, 2023
Real, Diverse, Unbiased.
Myanmar's Top Election Commission Official Shot Dead By Rebel Fighters
Myanmar's military has led a bloody crackdown on dissent after seizing power in a coup more than two years ago, sparking social unrest and an economic crisis.
The deputy head of Myanmar's election commission was shot dead in Yangon on Saturday by rebel fighters, the military said, in the latest killing of a high-profile individual linked to the country's junta.
Myanmar's military has led a bloody crackdown on dissent after seizing power in a coup more than two years ago, sparking social unrest and an economic crisis.
Self-declared civilian "People's Defence Forces" have sprung up in opposition to the junta, with their fighters targeting officials perceived to be working with the military.
Deputy director Sai Kyaw Thu of the Union Election Commission was shot dead in the township of Thingangyun in eastern Yangon, the army's information team said in a statement.
It said anti-coup "People's Defence Forces" were responsible but did not give further details.
The military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in February 2021 over unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud in elections the previous year.
It has tasked the junta-stacked election commission to withhold fresh polls, which opponents of the military say cannot possibly be free or fair.
Last month the commission dissolved Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party over its failure to re-register under tough new military-drafted electoral rules.
Myanmar's main military-backed party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, has already registered, state media reported Friday.
The group was trounced by Suu Kyi's NLD at elections in 1990, 2015 and 2020.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military's power grab, which sparked renewed fighting with ethnic rebels and birthed dozens of other opposition groups now battling the military.
Across the country, there are almost daily killings of low-level junta officials or alleged informers, with details murky and reprisals from the military often following quickly.
In April last year the deputy governor of Myanmar's central bank, who was appointed by the military days after it seized power, was shot by unknown assailants at her house in Yangon.
In November 2021 a top executive from Mytel -- a telecoms venture between the military and Vietnamese firm Viettel -- was gunned down outside his Yangon home.
Myanmar's military has led a bloody crackdown on dissent after seizing power in a coup more than two years ago, sparking social unrest and an economic crisis.
Self-declared civilian "People's Defence Forces" have sprung up in opposition to the junta, with their fighters targeting officials perceived to be working with the military.
Deputy director Sai Kyaw Thu of the Union Election Commission was shot dead in the township of Thingangyun in eastern Yangon, the army's information team said in a statement.
It said anti-coup "People's Defence Forces" were responsible but did not give further details.
The military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in February 2021 over unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud in elections the previous year.
It has tasked the junta-stacked election commission to withhold fresh polls, which opponents of the military say cannot possibly be free or fair.
Last month the commission dissolved Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party over its failure to re-register under tough new military-drafted electoral rules.
Myanmar's main military-backed party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, has already registered, state media reported Friday.
The group was trounced by Suu Kyi's NLD at elections in 1990, 2015 and 2020.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military's power grab, which sparked renewed fighting with ethnic rebels and birthed dozens of other opposition groups now battling the military.
Across the country, there are almost daily killings of low-level junta officials or alleged informers, with details murky and reprisals from the military often following quickly.
In April last year the deputy governor of Myanmar's central bank, who was appointed by the military days after it seized power, was shot by unknown assailants at her house in Yangon.
In November 2021 a top executive from Mytel -- a telecoms venture between the military and Vietnamese firm Viettel -- was gunned down outside his Yangon home.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
