Description:
"In November 1997, Physicians for Human Rights / Denmark and DanChurchAid visited
Thailand to describe violations of human rights committed against Burmese refugees in their
home country. We interviewed and examined people mainly from rural areas in the Shan,
Karenni and Karen regions of Burma.
We asked about exposure of family members to forced labour, porter service, forced
relocation, arrests, physical ill-treatment incl. torture, and about killing, rape and disappearances
of family members or persons from the village of the examined person. Furthermore, we
asked about landmine incidents among the examinees, family members or persons from their
village. If the examinee confirmed such exposure, we asked about details according to
interview forms.
In case the interviewed person alleged exposure to physical assaults, a physical
examination was performed to assess whether there was aggreement between the reported
exposure and the presence or absence of scars or other physical sequels.
In total, 188 persons were examined and interviewed.
92 persons, incl 46 Shans, were examined. 61 (66%) reported exposure to two or
more of the mentioned violations of human rights. 34 (37%) had fled within the last year
(median 5 months) before our examination. There was no difference between the exposure to
human rights violations committed against the Shans compared to the others. Those who had
fled recently were as heavily exposed as the rest of the examinees.
Of the 92 persons examined, it was among other things reported that 65% had done
porter service, that 51% had been relocated from their villages, that 14% had been tortured,
that 36% had experienced killing of family members (not from landmine explosions) and that
25% (themselves or family members) had been traumatized or killed by landmines.
In all cases of reported exposure to ill-treatmen t / torture or landmine incidents we found
agreement between the history and the result of the clinical examination.
Furthermore, 96 persons were interviewed. Of this group, 40% had fled within the last 12
months before our examination. Those who had fled most recently had been more heavily
exposed to human rights violation than the others who had fled earlier.
We conclude that the 188 persons examined and interviewed represent various ethnic groups,
mainly from rural areas in Burma, which have been heavily exposed to human rights violations.
Our results do not indicate that the Shan people has been less exposed than other groups. We
find no signs of amelioration of the human rights situation in Burma within the last year. Apart
from the landmine problem, in which local guerilla groups are involved, troops from the
Burmese army are responsible for all the described violations of human rights..."
Source/publisher:
Physicians for Human Rights/Denmark and Danchurchaid
Date of Publication:
1997-11-00
Date of entry:
2005-06-03
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English
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Format:
pdf
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351.41 KB