The house of a telecommunications officer who works under Myanmar’s Military Council was set on fire at 7 p.m. on 8 June in Bawathit Ward, Mindat Township in Chin State.

The staff house belonged to Daw Myint Myint Soe, who is not a member of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and has relations with the Military Council.

According to a local resident who attempted to put out the fire, everything was lost because no one was inside the house when the fire started.

“First it was said to be an electrical short circuit, but then it was clear that there was a strong smell of gasoline, so it was assumed to be arson,” the resident said.

No group directly took responsibility for the incident.

However, a statement released by the CDF-Mindat in the morning of 9 June stated: “This is the first time a staff member has been punished for crimes such as not joining the CDM after being warned multiple times and living in the staff housing and collecting the census of students who will attend the schools in Mindat township and collaborating with the Military Council.”

The statement went on to say that if the situation continues there will be no mercy and action will be taken “against all non-CDM personnel”.