IMNA: On the evening of October 18th, the Aru-taung village headman was seriously wounded after soldiers from Infantry Battalion (IB) No. 343 based in Aru-taung village, Ye Township, Mon State, beat him, claiming that soldiers from its battalion had disappeared.
Village observers speculated that IB No. 343 was dissatisfied by the headman’s support for campaign members in the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMDP). Many villagers also supported the AMDP members and believe the beating was meant to threaten them as well.
“All villagers welcomed the campaign by the AMDP, including the village headman, who gave support to the party. That night, soldiers from the battalion called the headman and beat him because of the party’s campaign. The beating was so serious that he was unable to eat,” one Aru-taung villager said.
According to a party organizer, the AMDP campaign received full support from Ye area community members. AMDP members report being investigated, threatened and being put on surveillance by Burmese government authorities throughout these campaigns.
AMDP members will compete in Mon State, Karen State, and Tenasserim Division for 34 seats during the national election on November 7th.
