Pado Mahn Shar

Pado Mahn Shar (July 5, 1943 in Taw Gyaung, Maubin District - February 14, 2008) was the secretary general of the Karen National Union (KNU), which is the largest rebel group in Myanmar. cite news |first=|last=|title=Burmese rebel leader is shot dead
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7244684.stm |work= BBC News |publisher=|date=2008-02-14 |accessdate=2008-03-08] The KNU, through its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, has been fighting against the Government of Burma (Myanmar) for autonomy for the Karen people since 1949. It operates in both Burma and Thailand.

Pado Mahn Shar was against any form of surrender to the Burmese government. He served as the secretary general of the KNU rebel group. The secretary general of the KNU is one of the main leaders of the group. cite news |first=Louise|last=Radnofsky |title=Burmese rebel leader shot dead
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/14/burma|work= The Guardian |publisher=|date=2008-02-14 |accessdate=2008-03-08]

Pado Mahn Shar was shot and killed on February 14, 2008 at about 4.30pm local time, in the border town of Mae Sot, Thailand. Mahn Shar was sitting in the veranda of his home when two attackers approached him bearing gifts, which were reportedly fruit baskets. One attacker shot Mahn Shar twice in the chest while the second gunman shot him as he lay on the ground. The attackers escaped in a in a pick-up truck. His house was approximately five kilometres from the Thai-Burmese border. He died instantly and was reportedly 64 years old at the time of his death.

Mahn Shar had predicted an increase in violence ahead of a Burmese constitutional referendum in May 2008, in an interview with Reuters the week of his death. Mahn Shar's son, Hse Hse, blamed a Karen splinter group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), for the attack.

References

External links

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/14/burma The Guardian: Burmese rebel leader shot dead]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7244684.stm BBC News: Burmese rebel leader is shot dead]
* [http://burmadigest.info/2008/02/14/obituary-for-padoh-mahn-sha-lah-phan/ Information on Pado Mahn Shar]