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KHRG Report May 27, 996
SLORC ORDERS TO VILLAGES: SET 96-C
Ye-Tavoy Railway, Dooplaya District
An Independent Report by the Karen Human Rights Group
May 27, 1996 / KHRG #96-22
[NOTE: SOME DETAILS IN THIS REPORT BLANKED OUT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.]
This report contains direct translations of several SLORC orders sent to
villages in 1995. Orders #1 thru #15 were issued in the Ye-Tavoy railway
area and concern railway labour. The Burmese copies of these orders
were provided to KHRG by XXXX. Orders #16 and #17 were issued to
Karen villages further north in Dooplaya District.
The orders from Ye-Tavoy area partly concern a change in the railway
route - after 2 years of the forced labour of thousands of people clearing
and building a railway embankment from Yah Pu to Kalein Aung, SLORC
suddenly decided the streams along this route require too many bridges so
the route would be moved several kilometres to the west, passing along the
eastern bank of the Heinze Basin through Mintha and close to Ain Da Ya
Za. The villagers now have to begin the forced labour all over again. For
more information on the route change see "Forced Labour in Mon Areas",
KHRG #96-20, 22/5/96. The prime focus of forced labour on the railway
now is in trying to complete the Kyaun Sone-Kalein Aung section using the
Nwe Lay labour camp, as noted in Orders #3, 4, and 9. It should also be
noted that several of the village tracts called for labour in these orders
are along the gas pipeline route or very close by, such as On Bin Kwin
(where French oil company TOTAL's base camp is located), Kanbauk,
Hpaungdaw, and Ain Da Ya Za. Kywe Thone Nyi Ma is just north of the
pipeline route. These villages are not only suffering from railway labour,
but also from other labour for the SLORC pipeline security battalions sent
into the area - see "Effects of the Gas Pipeline Project", KHRG #96-21,
23/5/96. Some of the orders clearly state that as soon as villagers get
home from forced labour building a military base on Heinze Boke Island
they are immediately considered available and called for labour on the
railway. As villagers in the area say, forced labour is non-stop.
Some of the orders call for 'professional' or 'paid' labour; this means the
villagers are supposed to raise money among themselves and pay the
people they send for forced labour. Other orders are actually receipts
verifying that village elders have paid the appropriate extortion money of
3,000 - 3,500 Kyat per person to avoid sending forced labour.
All numeric dates in the orders are given in dd/mm/yy format. Some
details of the orders have been replaced by 'xxxx' or 'yyyy' where
necessary to protect people. However, the Battalion numbers and some
other details of the orders are sensitive, so please ensure that this report
does not go to any SLORC representatives.
TOPIC SUMMARY: Railway labour (Orders #3-10), railway route survey
labour (#1,2), Heinze Boke island military camp labour (#9),
extortion to avoid forced labour (#6-8,11-13), 'paid professional' labour
(#3,4), summons to meetings (#14-17).
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #1
Township LORC
Ye Pyu Township
Reference: 099/4-8/Ma Wa Ta (Ye Pyu)
Date: 1995/August/2
To: Chairmen
Quarter / Village LORCs
Kalein Aung/Kanbauk/Pha Chaung/Ain Da Ya Za/Nat Gyi Zin/Mintha
Ye Pyu Township
Subject: To cooperate with the railway route-finding team
1. The route-finding team from Tavoy for Ye-Tavoy railway
construction will come and search in our village tracts on (5-8-95).
2. When this team arrives in our village tracts, we have to clear the
bushes. Each village tract must provide (50) labourers with their tools to
help them to do their work.
[Sd.]
(for) Chairman
(U Myint Soe - Secretary)
Copy to:
- No. 8 Commanding Operations Headquarters - Tavoy
- No. 1 Tactical Command Headquarters of South-East Division - Tavoy
- Division LORC - Tenasserim Division - Tavoy
- District LORC - Tavoy
- Railway Project Myanmar - Tavoy town
- Local working groups implementation (Kalein Aung - Kanbauk)
- Township Surveying Department - Ye Pyu Town
- Office copy/for clearance only
[This is the team which surveyed the new route after SLORC decided to
change the route, scrapping the embankment built by years of forced
labour from Yah Pu to Kalein Aung.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #2
Stamp: Date: XX-8-95
Village LORC
xxxx Village Tract - Ye Pyu Township To: Chairman/Secretary
Date: XX-8-95 xxxx village
Subject: To clear for the railway
Regarding the above subject, gentlemen, you have to send (XX) people with
machetes to xxxx village by this evening, XX-8-95 at 4 p.m., for voluntary
labour.
Note: Do not fail.
[Sd.]
Chairman
Village LORC
xxxx village - Ye Pyu township
[Note: this is to clear for the railway route-finding team mentioned in
Order #1.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #3
Township LORC
Ye Pyu Township
Reference: 099/4-8/Ma Wa Ta (Ye Pyu)
Date: 1995/August/31
To: Chairmen
Quarter / Village LORCs, All Village Tract LORCs
XXXX village tracts
Subject: Increasing professional labour force for railway construction and
to send full labour force
1. The sections of Ye Pyu and Kalein Aung on the Ye-Tavoy railway
construction must be completed as quickly as possible. This is why we are
increasing the paid labour force to (XX) people on (1-9-95).
2. You must send the paid labour force to Nwe Lay camp on 1.9.95.
All the paid workers must be male adults. No Children. Members of the
village LORC have to go and stay by rotation for implementation and
supervision and arrange the full labour force.
[Sd.]
(for) Chairman
(U Myint Soe - Secretary)
Copy to:
- District LORC - Tavoy town
- No. 410 LIB - Kalein Aung village - Ye Pyu township
- Camp leader - Frontline No. 410 LIB - Nwe Lay camp - Ye Pyu township
- Office copy / by clearance only
[Note: 'paid labour force' means the villagers are supposed to pay people
to go and do railway labour. In fact, many villagers just have to go
themselves to fill this quota without pay.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #4
Township LORC
Ye Pyu Township
Reference: 099/4-8/Ma Wa Ta (Ye Pyu)
Date: 1995/August/31
To: Chairmen
Quarter / Village LORCs, All Village Tract LORCs
XXXX village tracts
Subject: Increasing professional labour force for railway construction and
to send full labour force
1. The sections of Ye Pyu and Kalein Aung on the Ye-Tavoy railway
construction must be completed as quickly as possible. This is why we are
increasing the paid labour force to (XX) people on (1-9-95).
2. You must send the paid labour force to Nwe Lay camp on 1.9.95.
All the paid workers must be male adults. No Children. Members of the
village LORC have to go and stay by rotation for implementation and
supervision and arrange the full labour force.
[Sd.]
(for) Chairman
(U Myint Soe - Secretary)
Copy to:
- District LORC - Tavoy town
- No. 410 LIB - Kalein Aung village - Ye Pyu township
- Camp leader - Frontline No. 410 LIB - Nwe Lay camp - Ye Pyu township
- Office copy / by clearance only
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #5
Stamp: Date: XX-9-95
Village LORC
XXXX Village To: Chairmen
Date: XX-9-95 (xxxx - yyyy villages)
Subject: Volunteer labour for Ye-Tavoy railway construction
Regarding the above subject, the XXXX village tract has responsibility
for (XX) people. According to the work sharing, your villages
have the responsibility to send (xx) people. That is why you must send
these villagers to XXXX village on XX-9-95.
Note: Do not fail.
[Sd.]
(XXXX)
Chairman
Village LORC
XXXX village tract
[Note: This order was sent to all villages in XXXX village tract,
with varying numbers of people demanded depending on the village size.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #6
Stamp: Date: XX-9-95
Village LORC To: Chairman
XXXX Village VLORC
Date: XX-9-95 (xxxx village)
Subject: Volunteer labour for Ye-Tavoy railway construction
Regarding the above subject, by order from Ye Pyu township, XXXX village
tract must dig (1,440) kyin [1 kyin = 10'x10'x1' of stones or earth].
According to the work sharing, it is your village responsibility to
dig (XX) kyin. To hire labour for (1) kyin costs 350 Kyats.
Therefore, you must send your villagers to XXXX village on XX-9-95.
[Sd.] Note: Do not fail.
(XXXX) If you fail, it will be your responsibility.
Secretary-1
Village LORC
XXXX village tract
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #7
Stamp: Date: XX-9-95
Village LORC To: Chairman
XXXX Village VLORC
Date: XX-9-95 (xxxx village)
Subject: Volunteer labour for Ye-Tavoy railway construction
Regarding the above subject, by order from Ye Pyu township, XXXX village
tract must dig (1,440) kyin [1 kyin = 10'x10'x1' of stones or earth].
According to the work sharing, it is your village responsibility to
dig (XX) kyin. To hire labour for (1) kyin costs 350 Kyats.
Therefore, you must send your villagers to XXXX village on XX-9-95.
[Sd.] Note: Do not fail.
(XXXX) If you fail, it will be your responsibility.
Secretary-1
Village LORC
XXXX village tract
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #8
Stamp: Date: XX-9-95
Village LORC
xxxx village - Ye Pyu Township xxxx village Chairman and Secretary
Date: XX-9-95 BE INFORMED
Subject: xxxx village must dig (XX) kyin. One hole for 350 Kyats, total
amount XXXX Kyats. You must send this amount to XXXX village on XX-9-95.
Do not fail. [Sd. / XXXX]
Secretary
Village LORC
XXXX village tract
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #9
Township LORC
Ye Pyu Township
Reference: 099/4-8/Ma Wa Ta (Ye Pyu)
Date: 1995/June/22
To: Chairmen
Village Tract LORCs
On Bin Kwin/Zadi/Hpaungdaw/Yah Pu/Zimba
Subject: To send volunteer labourers for the railway construction
1. The labourers from Zadi, Hpaungdaw and On Bin Kwin village
tracts who have been working at the building of Heinze Island military camp
are now taking a rest. I inform you to send (XX) people from each village
tract to Nwe Lay labour camp on the Ye-Tavoy railway construction project
on (25.6.95).
2. The people from Yah Pu and Zimba village tracts have been taking
a rest from voluntary labour. I inform you to send (XX) people from Yah
Pu village tract and (XX) people from Zimba village tract on (25-6-95).
3. Your village tracts have the responsibility to build themselves some
buildings [shelters] for the railway construcion labourers. A member of
the Village LORC himself must bring the labourers and a member of
Village LORC has to be in charge and supervise the construction work.
[Sd.]
(for) Chairman
Copy to: (U Myint Soe - Secretary)
- District LORC, Tavoy town
- Group leader, "Local working groups implementation"
- Kanbauk area/Kalein Aung area:
To send and supervise labourers from Ye Pyu township, I inform
you about this.
- Office copy / by clearance only
[This order reflects the constant burden of forced labour; as soon as
villagers get back from labour on Heinze Island, they are immediately
considered available for labour on the railway.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #10
Stamp: Date: XX-8-95
Village LORC To: Chairman
XXXX Village Village LORC
Date: XX-8-95 (xxxx village)
Subject: Volunteer labourers for Ye-Tavoy railway construction
Regarding the above subject, according to the rotation for the Ye-Tavoy
railway construction, you have to send (xx) people to XXXX on XX-8-95
without fail.
Note: If you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd.]
(XXXX)
Chairman
Village LORC
XXXX village tract
[Note: this order was sent to several villages, with different numbers
written in depending on the village size.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #11
Stamp: Date: xx-XX-95
Village LORC
xxxx Village
Date: xx-XX-95
Tenasserim Division - Ye Pyu Township - xxxx Village Tract
From (xxxx village)
Chairman xxxx - Secretary yyyy, themselves, hired (xx) people for XXXX
Ye-Tavoy railway construction in XXXX village.
(Receipt - xxxx - Kyats
Correct
[Sd.]
(XXXX)
Chairman
Village LORC
xxxx village tract
[This receipt was given after village elders paid extortion money of 3,500
Kyat for each person absent from railway labour.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #12
Stamp: Date: xx-XX-95
Village LORC
xxxx Village
Date: xx-XX-95 (xxxx village)
Chairman U xxxx, himself, hired (xx) people for voluntary labour on the
Ye-Tavoy railway construction.
I received (xxxx) Kyat - xxxx Kyats
Correct
[Sd.]
(XXXX)
Chairman
Village LORC
xxxx village tract
[Note: this is a receipt after 3,000 Kyat per person was paid to the LORC.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #13
Stamp: Date: xx-XX-95
Village LORC
xxxx Village (xxxx village)
Date: xx-XX-95 Village LORC Chairman / U XXXX
For the Ye-Tavoy railway construction, yourself, U xxxx, hired (4) people
at 3,500 Kyats each.
Total: (14,000) Kyats - Fourteen thousand Kyats.
Received - Correct.
[Sd.]
(XXXX)
Chairman
Village LORC
xxxx village tract
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #14
To: Chairmen
xxxx / yyyy villages
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we want to discuss and consult with you about
the new railway [i.e. the new route]. As soon as you receive this letter,
come and meet at the army camp without fail. If you fail, it will be your
responsibility.
Place: XXXX camp [Sd./XXXX]
Date: XX-8-95 Company commander
No. X Company
Stamp: No. XXX LIB
No. XXX LIB XXXX camp
No. X Company
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #15
Stamp:
No. XXX LIB To: Chairman/Secretary
No. X Company xxxx and yyyy villages
Village LORC
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we want to consult and discuss with you on
Taw Tha Lin Hla San XX [XX Sept. 1995]. You have to come and meet
without fail, according to the order of #XXX Battalion commander. If you
fail to come, it will be your responsibility.
Date: XX-9-95 12:00 hour
Place: XXXX camp [Sd. / XXXX]
Date: XX-9-95 Company commander
No. X Company
No. XXX LIB
XXXX camp
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #16
Stamp: Date: 19-3-96
No. XXX IB
Note: Come without fail at the fixed time.
To: Chairman
xxxx village
23-3-96 - At 10 a.m. you must arrive at xxxx village for the meeting. Do
not come up with any excuse that you failed to come. If you fail to come,
we warn you that serious action will be taken.
[Sd.]
Intelligence - Corporal
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #17
Date: 21-3-96
TO DISCUSS IMPORTANT MATTERS
To: U xxxx
Chairman
xxxx village
23-3-96 - At 10 a.m. you must arrive at xxxx village for the meeting. Do
not come up with any excuse that you failed to come. If you fail to come,
gentleman, we warn you that serious action will be taken.
Note: Come without fail at the fixed time. Attendees must not be women.
No representatives or delegations.
[Sd.]
Intelligence - Sergeant
No. XXX IB
- [END] -