Secretary of Mongla-based ceasefire group assassinated

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 20:38 Myo Gyi

Ruili (Mizzima) - The Secretary of the Mongla-based ceasefire group National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) was assassinated by unknown assailants on Wednesday morning.

NDAA-ESS Secretary Min Ein (a.k.a. Lin Hongshen) was shot by unknown gunmen at about 6:30 a.m. (local time) while walking in Mongla with a companion, sources said.

While Min Ein died on the spot after sustaining seven gunshot wounds, his companion was critically injured and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital on the Sino-Burmese border.

The Mongla area, Special Region #4 as officially called by the Burmese regime, is controlled by the NDAA-ESS opposite Daluo in China.

Confusion reportedly arose within the ceasefire group following the assassination.

The source, who is close to the NDAA-ESS, told Mizzima some members of the group have speculated the assassination was carried out by soldiers who hate the Burmese junta and people close to them.

“He [Min Ein] is the key person among the top leaders in dealing with the junta, so some thought the assassination might have been done by NDAA-ESS soldiers who are hardcore in opposition the junta’s plans. He is thought to be pro-junta,” the source elaborated.

The NDAA-ESS has yet to agree to terms with Burma’s ruling junta concerning the contentious transformation of their army into a Border Guard Force under the administration of Burmese military authorities.

Min Ein, age 57, hailed from Bhamo in Kachin State. He joined the armed resistance movement in northeastern Shan state in 1978, where the former Communist Party of Burma (CPB) maintained its headquarters in opposition to the then Burmese military administration of Ne Win.

Later, he served as military advisor and political commissar in the CPB Northern Bureau’s military training school.

When the CPB disintegrated in 1989 he moved to Mongla, later denoted as Shan State (East) Special Region No. 4, following the culmination of a ceasefire agreement between the NDAA-ESS and junta.

Since that time he had acted as Secretary of the NDAA-ESS.