A member of the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) was reportedly shot dead on 7 June in Thazi Township, in Mandalay Region’s Meiktila District.

The victim, 44-year-old Than Hlaing Moe (aka) Kyal Moe, owned a raincoat tailoring shop near to the Meiktila to Taunggyi road in Thazi Township.

“In the Thazi area, he was also known as a strong supporter of the Military Council and Ma Ba Tha [a nationalistic, racist, fundamental Buddhist organisation]. He was also a member of the USDP. He was killed last night while he was still in his shop”, said a local.

A source close to the police said: “While he was still in his shop, four gunmen arrived with motorcycles and shot him.”

He suffered gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen and died on the way to the Thazi People’s Hospital.

The police are still trying to identify the four gunmen.

Than Hlaing Moe was a member of Union Solidarity and Development Party and the Thazi Township Party Committee.