Two soldiers were killed as the result of week-long rebellion

DVB ( Aug 21, 2003 )

Two soldiers who hid on the island in the Irrawaddy River as a result of their rebel to the LIB (Light Infantry Battalion) No.88 were killed by the army. But one survived.
The incident started on14 August when these three soldiers stole one thanakha (sandalwood) tree from a thanakha farm owned by IB – 88. Then, one of them was arrested and was badly tortured in an army detention centre. He was also forced to reveal other soldiers' names.

On 19 August, the sergeant and soldier who escaped rescued and smuggled the imprisoned soldier and fled an island between Magwe and Minu. On the road, there were 3 G-3 assault rifles and more than 400 rounds of bullets.

According to the local people from Minbu, the soldiers fired army boats of IB-88 which attempted to approach the island..

“Yesterday, they were shooting at each other but today I haven’t heard a single shot,” said a local resident from Minbu.

As a result, one child and an adult who were watching the drama were wounded. Later, the public were forbidden to enter the Myanthalun Pagoda in Magwe or to cross the Irrawaddy Bridge

To capture the three soldiers, soldiers from IB – 88 of Minbu, IB – 10 of Saku and Brigade – 88 of Magwe have hired an experienced diver and ten swimmers to search around the island. Meanwhile, hundreds of kamikaze soldiers searched on land.

Since the last soldiers have not been found yet, the army commanders have order the villagers to search for the escaped soldiers in the fields.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 21 Aug 03