A person close to the family of the victims in the Mya Taung strike told Mizzima that the bodies of Ma Thu Thu Zin and another person, who was shot dead during the strike in Mandalay Region, were cremated at Light Infantry Battalion- LIB (95) at the foot of Mandalay Hill without being returned to family members.

"They (military) said the burial was over. They buried the bodies according to their plan. It is their time. They will do whatever they want. That's it,” the person told Mizzima.

Two youths, including Ma Thu Thu Zin, the leader of the Mandalay Mya Taung protest march, were shot dead by plainclothes men near the eastern front of the Mahamuni Pagoda at 12 noon on July 27.

An eyewitness confirmed the incident to Mizzima that the shooting was carried out by Aung San, a member of the Pyu Saw Htee and an administrator appointed by the Military Council for Kyun Lone Oke Shaung ward. He shot with a pistol he always carried.

“Soldiers and police did not shoot. An administrator appointed by the army shot them. it is called Pyu Saw Htee in this region. He used his pistol. It is clear that the body was not returned to cover up the murder,” he told Mizzima.

Three youths were shot and hit in the crackdown on protesters in Mya Taung yesterday, killing the leaders, Ma Thu Thu Zin, and another young man, the rest are still under arrest. All three were taken away by the military after the shooting.