TENSIONS are running high in northern Myanmar as political parties condemn Saturday's assassination of a newly-elected MP in the northern Shan state.
The victorious candidate, U Htike Zaw, won the seat in the Nov 8 general election for the National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
He was shot dead by unidentified armed men at his Pin Tain village home in Kyaukme on Saturday evening.
Political parties are pressing for the killers and those behind the attack to be found quickly amid fears that such violence could spiral out of control.
NLD central executive committee member Dr Myo Nyunt told The Irrawaddy daily that all party members must be alert to the threat posed by those who oppose the peace process and moves towards a federal democracy.
He called on NLD supporters to abide by the law in response to the murder as acts of political violence might be planned to spark a reaction.
Other political parties, including the Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD), Ta'ang National Party and Kachin State People's Party, have also condemned the assassination and expressed their condolences to the slain MP's family.
The French and United States embassies in Myanmar have also strongly condemned the assassination and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security (MIPS) executive director Dr Min Zaw Oo said the assassination could mark the beginning of a culture of political violence.
"It is unacceptable. It is important that all political parties oppose this kind of violence" he said.
Meanwhile, an election official told the Myanmar Times that the shooting could be due to the polls result for the seat that U Htike Zaw won.
He won the polls after about 450 votes for another candidate from a state-based rival party were invalidated by election officials.
A spokesperson from Shan Nationalities Development Party (SNDP) expressed concern that post-election violence may rise because of people disappointed with the results.
He said there were similar killings in the state, which is a notorious haven for drug syndicates and armed groups.
Shan state is part of the so-called Golden Triangle along the border of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.
The area is known for the drug trade and has a serious law and order problem, according to state election officials.
On Nov 14, the house of an election sub-commission chairman in Kyaukme was shot at by unidentified gunmen but no one was injured in the incident.
Several armed groups operate in the town, including military-backed militias and ethnic Ta'ang and Shan armed groups.
In Nov 2019, three members of the SNLD were shot dead by an armed group in the area.
MIPS said there have been 20 attacks targeting unarmed civilians since 2016, resulting in the deaths of 31 civilians.
Few of those responsible have been brought to justice.
A further 107 civilians have died in 63 mine explosions since 2016.