In Myanmar, a group of armed individuals from an ethnic minority carried out the execution of three of its members after a public trial in a town taken from the military in January, as reported by the group's affiliated media outlets.
Myanmar's border areas are home to various armed groups representing ethnic minorities, some of which have been fighting the military for independence and control of valuable resources like jade or opium for many years.
Media linked to the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) reported that 10 military personnel were publicly tried in Laukkai city on Wednesday for crimes such as murder, extortion, and kidnapping.
The MNDAA, an ethnic Chinese organization, controls territory in the northern part of Shan state, near China's Yunnan province.
A video released by The Kokang media outlet on Wednesday showed the men in shackles and identical tracksuits with signs around their necks detailing their names and crimes.
A group of spectators gathered in front of a stage where a man in military uniform announced the verdict.
Three of the men were sentenced to death for murder and for selling stolen weapons and ammunition belonging to the MNDAA, according to The Kokang.
The rest received prison terms.
The trial was described by The Kokang as an important step to discourage involvement in criminal activities.
AFP reached out to a source close to the MNDAA for comment.
In January, around 2,000 junta troops surrendered Laukkai to the MNDAA after weeks of fighting, marking one of the military's major defeats.
Back in 2009, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing gained recognition in Laukkai for expelling the MNDAA from the town during his time as a regional commander.
Afterwards, the military established a militia that profited from drug production, gambling, and prostitution targeted at visitors arriving from China.
In recent months, the town has become a hub for online scam operations staffed by individuals from China and other countries, many of whom have been trafficked and coerced into swindling their compatriots.
China, a key ally and arms supplier of the junta, has repeatedly urged Myanmar's military to clamp down on this industry.
According to analysts, the MNDAA's offensive to reclaim Laukkai and other areas from the military had China's quiet support due to the junta's inaction.
The MNDAA has declared its intention to eradicate all scam operations.
Agence France-Presse
