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Forced relocation in  Pa-an district

Documented by Health Workers Union (Pa-an district)
Posted by  FTU-B(TUR/HR)
19 September, 1998

The SPDC's Aung Moe Haing operation, which aims to relocate villages in the
Dawna range, started in late August 1998. The operation is employing
Division No. 44, commanded by Division Commander Toe Aung.  Light Infantry
Battalion (LIB) No. 3, LIB 9, LIB 118 and Infantry Battalion No. 81
(totalling about 900 soldiers) are being employed in Pine Kyone township
and the rest of the Division's battalions have been sent to the area
between Myawaddy and Pine Kyone for the same purpose.  According to escaped
porters, each battalion has brought 100 to 200 landmines (types MM1 and MM2
made by the SPDC army) to plant along the Thai-Burma border and even at
some places in Thailand.

It is confirmed that Mae La-a, Mae Keh and  Wah Mee Kho villages have been
burned down since the start of September. The villages of Mae La-a Khee,
Wah Mee Klar, Htee Ka Haw, Pali Pu, Po Paw Lay, Nei Po Khee,  Klay Po Klo
and Ma Oh Pu are also believed to have been destroyed.  LIB No. 9, which
destroyed Mae La-a and Mae Keh villages, looted villagers' property and
killed all livestock before setting the villages alight.  In the process,
the soldiers of LIB No. 9 also burned down a clinic and a school.
  
As a result, about two thousand villagers have fled to the border and are
trying to find asylum in Thailand.  An estimated 4,000 villagers are still
trapped in the jungle.  Facing the rainy season, with landmines on many
pathways and without any food, the villagers still trapped inside Burma are
in a very bad situation.  In some places, Karen guerrillas have started
clearing landmines to help the trapped villagers.
 
The following is the translation of a relocation order sent to villages in
Kawkareik and Myawaddy townships by LIB 104, which is part of 44 Division
(the order was not dated other than '1998 August'). 


      Front Line Light InfantryBattalion No. (104)
           Pakalu village
           Ref. No.  104 / 02 / Oo 1
     Date. 1998 August 
To.

Chairman
( deleted )   village

Subject:  Order to vacate issued to the villages.

1. Order has been issued to the (deleted )    village to vacate the place
and move to Kwih Lay village or to any other place where the villagers have
relatives, at the latest by 10th September 1998.
2. After the date of issue of this order, it is warned that the Army will
go around clearing the area and should any village or small huts in the
paddy fields be found still standing, they will all be dismantled and
destroyed.


Sd. xxxxxx
(for) Battalion Commander
Front line, Light Infantry Battalion No.104