According to reports from Wa Youth Voice Network, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) has sentenced a man to death in Hopang, a town under their control, for the murder of a young child during an armed robbery.
The UWSA held a public sentencing ceremony on October 30 in Hopang’s cultural square, where residents witnessed the death sentence for the 20-year-old murderer, Maung Sai Kyaw Tun, and prison sentences for six others convicted of sexual assault. The lead perpetrator received a life sentence, while the other five received 15-year sentences each.
This marks the first death sentence carried out publicly since the UWSA took control of Hopang. A UWSA official stated that public sentencing aligns with their longstanding policy, aiming to educate the public and deter future crimes. While the sentencing was public, the actual execution location will be determined by the UWSA’s judicial department.
The murder occurred on August 3, 2024, when an armed robbery at a grocery in Hopang resulted in the death of an eight-year-old child. Two months later, the UWSA handed down the death sentence to the perpetrator.
Previously, the UWSA has displayed criminals publicly in areas they control, parading them through towns after sentencing as part of their crime prevention efforts.
