July 13, 2022
In Tawau, Tanintharyi Region, a 22-year-old man named Ko Paing Paing was reportedly shot dead by the military near the DDPC shopping center for failing to stop his motorcycle. Locals reported that on July 10, at around 3 a.m., Ko Paing Paing was riding his motorcycle from a friend’s house when he allegedly refused to comply with a military checkpoint and was shot.
The military’s gunfire hit Ko Paing Paing in the neck and abdomen, resulting in his death. His family learned of his death on July 12 when the hospital called to retrieve his body. A close acquaintance of Ko Paing Paing stated, “Before he went out, he mentioned he was going to a friend’s house. It was only a day later that we realized he was missing after trying to contact him.” In Tawau, armed military personnel have been stationed at various intersections, with at least one police officer present at each location, creating a tense security atmosphere since the previous day.