(Author’s note – Details given of the incident match those given by eye-witnesses who said that 2 Dinah trucks were used to collide and crash the car in which Daw Aung Suu Kyi was riding with intention to kill.)

The Slaughter at Depayin.
A report to the people
By Oway Front.

Our Demands

1. That Deputy Chairman U Tin U and General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi be released immediately.
2. That a committee of independent persons be convened to inquire into the facts and report the circumstances relating to the Depayin killings.
3. That a list of dead and injured be immediately released.
4. That NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe and all members of the Central Committee be immediately released from house arrest.
5. That the NLD head office and all branch offices be reopened immediately.


Their Villainous Activity

The atrocity committed on the 30th May 2003 at Kyi Village, Depayin township, Sagaing Division ranks second to that of the 1988 massacres. It was a premeditated plot.

This was personally supervised by the SPDC and their stooges were the USDA. The plot was to attack Deputy Chairman U Tin U and the people’s leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the motorcade which was in progress.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party departed from Butalin town for Depayin at 5 pm. They were greeted by villagers all the way and they had to spend some time acknowledging and responding. This delay caused them to reach Kyi village at about 7:30 pm.

They spent about 10 minutes acknowledging the villagers here then continued on their journey. After they had gone a distance of 100 feet, one monk and three men barred their way and asked that she speak to them. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi politely declined and requested that they be allowed to continue on their journey because it was already very late. They refused to get out of the way and said “Please wait for our people to arrive”.

Within five minutes, a crowd of people and monks carrying wooden sticks, swords, and iron spears descended from about 20 Dina cars that had been following us from behind. The monks wore white arm bands.

They went on to beat up the villagers who were out there to welcome us. Many fell to the ground and others fled. One group chased the villages and continued thrashing them. The rest of the attackers surrounded the 9 vehicles including Daw Su’s and started beating up the NLD members. Their strokes were aimed at heads. Many fell and died there.

In response to the groans and yelling of the injured these words were uttered by the attackers. “If you don’t want to die just pretend to be dead. Don’t cry out. Our orders are to beat you to death”.

Female members of the NLD were viciously attacked. Their NLD uniforms were forcefully ripped off their bodies leaving them naked. Necklaces and jewelry was snatched from them and handbags grabbed.

Youth Wing members of the NLD who accompanied Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to protect her shouted out “Protect our mother”. Then these members were beaten up and many died on the spot.

At that moment, U Tint U’s car overtook Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s car and both cars sped away. Immediately behind them was a car with Youth Wing bodyguards and another car belonging to Daw Win Mya Mya (Mandalay). They also got away.

The remaining cars that were part of her motorcade were caught in the killing field and suffered severe beatings.

The dragnet beatings continued from 8 to 10. Any moving body was relentlessly beaten to death.

With intention to kill until life is extinguished they even indulged in raping some girls in that killing field.

This plot was hatched and supervised by the SPDC and implemented by their stooges the USDA. There can be no doubt about this fact.


Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Destiny

Though her car and about 20 Youth Wing Members, her bodyguards, escaped from the first killing field they entered another killing field at about 600 feet away where there was bend in the road and a stream had been crossed.

The road was barricaded with barbed wire and a Major with a military squad and police were waiting. Two bright lights attached to trees at the side of the road lit up the area.
On the left a batch of executioners armed with sticks and bamboo spears were ready for the kill.

U Tin U descended from his car to speak to the military in charge. He and all those in his car were arrested and dragged away into the compound of a nearby Irrigation Department compound.

As Daw Su’s car approached the spot, the executioners were alerted to do their job but the driver quickly accelerated and sped away.

The order to “Collide and crash” was heard. The 2 Dinah trucks drove head on into them. Due to the dexterity of the driver, he swerved just in time to avoid the collision and sped past the barbed wire. The shooting commenced when orders to “shoot” were heard. They missed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s car, but they managed to puncture the tyre of Daw Win Mya Mya’s car. Her car went out of control and hit a tree by the side of the road. Four passengers died. Both of Daw Win Mya Mya’s forearms were fractured.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s car driver was able to drive through the barbed wire barricade and get away. They did not stop at Depayin town but drove on to Ye U. Daw Su sustained injuries from broken glass which pierced the left side of the base of her neck and she suffered a severe whack on the left arm.

They could only stop to examine the injuries before entering Ye U.

The death toll of NLD members in this killing field was over 70 while a great many were injured.

Who is responsible for this massacre?

This report has been prepared to inform the people who the executioners were.