Interview
Border News Agency
Mrauk-U, August 7.
On the evening of August 5, around 8:00 p.m., U Maung Thein Shwe, a 56-year-old resident of Bar Bu Taung Ward in Mrauk-U—an area under the control of the Arakan Army (AA) was violently killed inside his home. The perpetrators were reportedly three sons of U Maung Sein Kyaw from Sue Rite Chaung Village, Mrauk-U Township.
Following the incident, the victim’s family members are calling for the perpetrators to receive the maximum possible punishment for the crime.
Border News Agency contacted and interviewed the daughter of U Maung Thein Shwe regarding the incident.
“Yes, the person who was killed was my father. As for how it happened—he was killed around 8 p.m. by some of the neighbors, who were also the perpetrators. My father’s name was U Maung Thein Shwe. Now, we’ve been told that the perpetrators have been arrested. Since we’re in Yangon, that’s all we know for now. What we want is justice. Losing a father in such a brutal way is something no son or daughter should ever have to go through.”
“I’m calling on the ULA/AA to deliver justice for my father. We sincerely request that they take all possible actions to ensure justice is served. If my father hadn’t been killed like this, he could have lived another 10 or even 20 years. He could have reached the age of over 70. But because of what they did, his life was cut short like this.”
“We didn’t have any major problems with them the perpetrators. Our houses are right next to each other. But there had been some arguments in the past related to household matters.”
“The issue started when they were building their house it caused my father’s house to tilt. As a result, the doors, walls, and even the toilet all cracked.
That was the only thing we ever mentioned regarding the matter. There was no serious conflict beyond that. It was never a situation that would justify killing someone.”
“Yes, I know it was U Maung Sein Kyaw. Since we’re living in Yangon, this is all we’ve heard that they’ve been arrested. But I didn’t see anything myself. There’s no way to communicate right now either. The phone lines aren’t working, so we can’t get any updates. I want to see my father’s face, but I’ve only been able to see a photo.”
“I demand justice for my father’s unjust killing. I don’t even know for sure if the perpetrators have been arrested. But I do know all their names. Only if those responsible are punished accordingly for what they did to my father will our family be able to find some peace.”
“None of the children had any direct contact either. It was only when my mother made a video call that I found out my father had passed away. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known. She called around 1:40 a.m., but since I was with my child, I missed the call. I only found out around 7 a.m. when I got up to open the shop.”
