A man was shot and killed by a soldier who was guarding a timber extraction site in Ayeyarwady Region on 18 February. The incident followed an argument between a passenger on the truck and a soldier who was guarding the Busin camp, near Pathein Township. A shot fired by the solider reportedly injured U Myo Lwin, 44, who was travelling on the truck, he later died while he was taken to the Pathein Hospital, a family member said. He sustained injuries close to his bladder. The soldier who fired the shot was Sargent Htay Aung who served with the No 51 light infantry division based in Man Aung. The battalion is stationed in Shwe Thaung Yan Township to guard a coastal area. Five people were travelling on the privately owned truck, which was carrying 9 tons of timber at the time of incident. A passenger on the car said many shots were fired at the truck. “Army and police usually ask for bribe in the name of road tax. When they ask for money from our truck, an argument broke out with one passenger, Ko Moe Zaw a.k.a Kyaw Pya Gyi. We all were drunk Kyaw Pya Gyi punched a soldier then the soldier start firing at our truck,” Ko Ka Pya, another passenger on the truck said. Sargent Htay Aung was arrested by Shwe Thaung Yan police and he will be put on trial in a military tribunal. “Soldiers have duty to abide by both the military and civilian laws. Any solder committed a crime will get a 20 years jail sentence. Not only him all the rank and files of military officers with him will receive punishment,” Lieutenant Colonel Ye Nyein, a Commanding Officer Grade 2 at the South West Command said.