A Tatmadaw soldier killed his superior officer with a rifle and then committed suicide during a morning meeting in Matupi town, Chin State.
A male source associated with the Burma Army (BA) told Khonumthung News, that the soldier shot the captain of IB-140 when he stated in the meeting on August 29 that the State Administration Council will soon release Aung San Suu Kyi and hold fresh national elections so that soldiers will not have to join the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).
“I heard that at least five soldiers who are single are planning to join the CDM,” he said.
After the shootings, outsiders are not allowed to enter the IB-140 base and many soldiers were seen on Monday providing security at the intersections of roads around Matupi.
The source explained that the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services sent a directive to all battalions across the country on Sunday to take control of soldiers who want to join the CDM.
Besides claiming that Suu Kyi would be released and plans for an election, the man said the directive instructed soldiers not to try to create disunity in the battalions and told them they did not have to join the CDM because things would soon return to normal.
According to other local sources, there is a sense of general unrest in the two military battalions and the strategic command centre in Matupi, which includes IB-140 and IB-304.
Over 1,500 soldiers and officers have already deserted to join the protest movement, according to the interim National Unity Government.