On 9 March, Zaw Lin Tun, a former school teacher who was a member of the Karenni Generation Z (KGZ) guerilla group and Elizabeth, a female member of the Free Burma Ranger aid group were killed during fighting in Karenni State’s Demoso Township.

Zaw Lin Tun, age 24, was shot in the head by a junta sniper during fighting at Thay Lay Su in Demoso.

He was working for the Student Union in Loikaw Education College. After the coup, he left his job as a government school teacher and became a commander in the KGZ armed resistance force.

A KGZ member said to Mizzima: “Since the start of the coup he led the protests. When armed resistance became necessary, he attended military training at his parent brigade at the The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and became a leader for the KGZ group. He was well known in Karenni State For his revolutionary efforts. He is regarded as a hero”,

Zaw Lin Tun was also remembered and feted as a student hero by the Student Union of the Education College.

Elizabeth, the 25-year-old Free Burma Ranger member died at 7.30am on 9 March. She died from injuries sustained when she was hit by an artillery shell at about 2pm earlier that day. At the time she was trying to save trapped villagers in Saung Du Lar Village as it was being bombed by air force planes.

Elizabeth was a second-year student at a midwives’ school in Bago. She was praised by the Free Burma Rangers for her contribution to the group.

There are violent clashes in Demoso every day. On 9 March there was fighting throughout the whole day in three different areas of Demoso that resulted in the deaths of 10-15 junta troops, according to a local PDF spokesperson.