Chin Shopkeeper Beaten up by Soldier in Tedim

09 July 2012: A Chin local in charge of a restaurant in Tedim town was strangled and beaten up by Corporal Ko Zin Htwe, of the Military Affairs Security (MAS), in Tedim Township of Chin State, Burma on 29 June 2012.

Corporal Ko Zin Htwe squeezed the neck of Ma Mang and punched him after the restaurant worker refused several times to sell alcoholic drinks on credit, according to the Chin World Media.

The Chin victim said Ko Zin Htwe started getting angry and throttling as well as beating him up despite making a proper explanation that it was not possible to buy the item and pay later.

It is claimed that a report on the incident would be made to the higher authority so a legal action would be taken against the perpetrator.

Corporal Ko Zin Htwe is known to have only been in Tedim Township, Chin State for just over a month.

The Military Affairs Security (MAS), currently headed by Major General Kyaw Swe since 2010, was established after the Defense Service Intelligence (DDSI), Burma’s main military intelligence service, was disbanded in 2004 following the arrest of General Khin Nyunt.

In another recent incident taking place in Tedim Township on 10 June 2012, soldiers from Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion No. 268 severely beat up Pu Zam Shin Thang, head of Fartang village and Kap Za Cin, youth leader.

Being accused of banning sales of wood and timber from the village-owned preserved forests to Mizoram State of India, the two victims were physically punished by the army soldiers, who were believed to have taken bribes from the traders.

Reporting by Thawng Zel Thang
[email protected]