UN calls for accountability after WHO employee shot dead in Mon State 

By DMG 10 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
10 June 2022, Mawlamyine, Mon State 

The United Nations on June 9 called for an investigation into the killing of a World Health Organization (WHO) employee in Mawlamyine, Mon State, this week. 

In a statement, the UN said U Myo Min Htut, a WHO driver for nearly five years, was shot dead “during a security incident” on Wednesday at around 5 p.m. while riding his motorcycle in Mawlamyine. 

“The exact circumstances of the incident currently remain unclear,” said the statement. 

Ramanathan Balakrishnan, the UN resident coordinator, said: “The United Nations appeals to all parties and stakeholders to respect the neutrality of the United Nations and Humanitarians and further calls for all parties to protect the rights and safety of civilians and strongly condemns acts of violence against civilians. The United Nations expects an impartial investigation into the incident and the perpetrators to be held accountable.” 

“He was shot dead while riding his motorbike near Thanlwin Uyin Road,” said a member of a local social organization, confirming details of the UN statement. “He was dead when we arrived at the scene of the incident.” 

Authorities have since tightened controls on traffic at Mawlamyine’s entry and exit points, said a resident. 

“As a result, inspections have increased both inside and outside Mawlamyine. Security forces are tightening security and conducting interrogations of locals over the alleged killing of a WHO employee,” the resident added. 

An anti-regime militia group in Mawlamyine reportedly claimed responsibility for the killing, describing U Myo Min Htut as a junta informant and accusing him of harassing the families of participants in the resistance movement. DMG could not independently verify those allegations. 

“We let him retire from this human world,” the militia group said in a statement. 

Two staff members of the international aid group Save the Children were killed in a massacre of 35 people that was blamed on Myanmar junta troops on December 24, 2021, in Kayah State.