"In September 1996, the State Law & Order Restoration Council (SLORC) military junta ruling Burma began a campaign of forced relocations and forced-labour road building in the Palauk-Palaw, Mergui and Tenasserim regions in Tenasserim (Taninthari) Division of southern Burma. The campaign, which intensified in January 1997, involved the forced relocation and destruction of at least 60 Karen villages as well as clampdowns on Burman and Mon villages in a region measuring about 140 km. north-south and 20-30 km. east-west. This land corridor lies between the Andaman Sea coastal motor road in the west and the Tenasserim River valley in the east, from Palauk (100 km. south of Tavoy) in the north to Tenasserim town in the south (see map with this report)..."