Mizzima News

Chiang Mai - A Karen National Union (KNU) official says that the SPDC might be the mastermind behind the killing of its General Secretary, Pado Mahn Sha.

Two unknown gunmen shot the KNU General Secretary dead at point blank range at his residence in Mae Sot on February 14th at approximately 4:30 p.m. (Thai

time). KNU Headquarters Spokesman Pado David Taw speculates that the junta could be responsible.

"According to our sources the junta might be behind this plot, hiring the hit men to kill our General Secretary," he said.

The funeral for Pado Mahn Sha was held yesterday at about 9 a.m. at a KNU controlled area inside Burma but near the Thai border. The ceremony was attended by over 2,000 people, including ethnic dignitaries and leaders from various revolutionary forces.

The funeral was pushed up one day due to the early arrival of his daughters and security reasons, KNU official David Taw revealed. The KNU had received a tip-off of the apparent firing of heavy arms in the region by the Burmese Army and the breakaway Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.

Major Tu Tu Lay, the former Joint General Secretary (1), replaced the slain leader and Joint General Secretary (2), Pado David Tharkapaw, assumed the post of Joint General Secretary (1).