Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) reports

Work in progress - most KHRG reports are in the thematic sections
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Title: Foundation of Fear: 25 years of villagers? voices from southeast Myanmar
Description: "Foundation of Fear. Since 1992, the Karen Human Rights Group has been documenting villagers? voices on the human rights situation in southeast Myanmar. 25 years on, KHRG presents this extensive review, an analysis of villagers? current concerns seen in the light of 25 years of testimonies on human rights and abuse. By revisiting these testimonies we can understand ongoing obstacles to peace, security and freedom for local community members in southeast Myanmar, and prevent human rights abuses from being forgotten, silenced and, crucially, from continuing and being repeated..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2017-10-00
Date of entry/update: 2017-12-16
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ), Karen
Format : pdf
Size: 4.77 MB
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Title: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Description: The largest body of high-quality reports on the civil war in Burma, especially focussed on the civilian victims - currently over 600 reports dating from 1992.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English, Karen, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Individual Documents

Title: Beyond the Horizon: Local Perspectives on Peace, Justice and Accountability in Southeast Myanmar [EN/MY/Karen]
Description: "Today, at the Myanmar Press Freedom Center in Yangon, the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) launched its latest report, ‘Beyond the Horizon: Local Perspectives on Peace, Justice and Accountability in Southeast Myanmar’. This report explores the issue of transitional justice by examining the legacy of past human rights violations and the current human rights situation in Southeast Burma/Myanmar, as well as the perspectives of 95 local villagers on the peace process and access to justice. In 2015, the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement created possibilities for positive change after decades of conflict. However, the consequences of past abuses continue to impact the daily lives of local people, often combining with new forms of abuses to compound their economic marginalisation. As the peace process is now at a deadlock, it remains unclear to what extent it will be able to address these issues. Although most respondents reported that they now feel safer, problems persist. Traditional forms of abuses, such as killings, sexual and gender-based violence, physical abuse, forced labour and extortion still occur. In addition, the rights of rural Karen communities over natural resources and land are being totally disregarded. The Tatmadaw is also increasing its presence across the region, and skirmishes between armed actors undermine the local people’s trust in the peace process. Respondents reported that, during the pre-ceasefire period, they were often prevented from accessing justice by their rightful fear of armed actors, a lack of judicial independence and rule of law, and the absence of civilian jurisdiction over Tatmadaw abuses. In the current ceasefire period, villagers are also being denied justice because the parallel justice systems existing in Southeast Burma/Myanmar are inconsistent, lack resources and are plagued by corruption.
Source/publisher: "Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)" (Chiang Mai) via "Reliefweb" (USA)
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-17
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Type: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf pdf pdf
Size: 4.11 MB 3.5 MB 1.69 MB
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Title: Hpa-an Incident Report: Rape case in Nabu (T’Nay Hsah) Township, 2018 Rainy Season
Summary: "During the 2018 rainy season, Naw H--- was raped by a close male relative in A--- village, Ta Nay Hsah Township. He lured the victim into his hill farm and raped her in his hut...
Description: "During the 2018 rainy season, Naw H--- was raped by a close male relative in A--- village, Ta Nay Hsah Township. He lured the victim into his hill farm and raped her in his hut. Naw H--- has an intellectual disability. She did not tell anyone about the rape, but the village leaders questioned her when she started showing signs of pregnancy. At first, she did not tell them who the true perpetrator was, but she ultimately accused her relative after giving birth to a child. The village leaders arrested and interrogated him on April 27th 2019. He admitted that he had raped Naw H---. Therefore, the village leaders subjected him to physical punishment, after which he was released. The perpetrator was not brought before a formal court of law. The victim received no compensation and still lives in the same village as the perpetrator. Currently, Naw H--- is staying with another close relative, and her child was adopted by someone living abroad..."
Source/publisher: "Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)"
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-10
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: Southeast Myanmar Field Report: Growing concerns about militarisation, land tenure security, development projects and human rights abuses, January to June 2019
Description: "This Field Report analyses information collected by KHRG field researchers between January and June 2019. Reports received at a later stage but covering events that took place during that period were also taken into account. KHRG documented that the Tatmadaw[1] reinforced its presence all across the region, and supplied more weapons and ammunition to its army camps. It also trespassed into areas controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU) to engage in contentious road constructions activities, resulting in several skirmishes with the Karen National Liberation Army in Hpapun and Nyaunglebin districts. This increase in militarisation and periodic fighting caused displacement and security concerns among the local population, and could be detrimental to the on-going peace process. Since March 11th 2019, the people using land that has been classified as vacant, fallow or virgin without an official land use permit can be charged with trespassing and face up to two years in prison under the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Management Law (VFV Law). Customary land owners were only given a six-month period to apply for a permit, and most failed to meet the deadline because of lack of awareness or difficult access to land registration services. Their lands can now legally be reallocated for other purposes by the government. This development further aggravated land tenure insecurity in Southeast Myanmar and now threatens the livelihoods of countless subsistence farmers..."
Source/publisher: "Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)"
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-10
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: Southeast Myanmar Field Report: Growing concerns about militarisation, land tenure security, development projects and human rights abuses, January to June 2019
Description: "This Field Report analyses information collected by KHRG field researchers between January and June 2019. Reports received at a later stage but covering events that took place during that period were also taken into account. KHRG documented that the Tatmadaw[1] reinforced its presence all across the region, and supplied more weapons and ammunition to its army camps. It also trespassed into areas controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU) to engage in contentious road constructions activities, resulting in several skirmishes with the Karen National Liberation Army in Hpapun and Nyaunglebin districts. This increase in militarisation and periodic fighting caused displacement and security concerns among the local population, and could be detrimental to the on-going peace process. Since March 11th 2019, the people using land that has been classified as vacant, fallow or virgin without an official land use permit can be charged with trespassing and face up to two years in prison under the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Management Law (VFV Law). Customary land owners were only given a six-month period to apply for a permit, and most failed to meet the deadline because of lack of awareness or difficult access to land registration services. Their lands can now legally be reallocated for other purposes by the government. This development further aggravated land tenure insecurity in Southeast Myanmar and now threatens the livelihoods of countless subsistence farmers..."
Source/publisher: "Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)"
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-10
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: Dooplaya Situation Update: School corporal punishment, theft of civilian property by Tatmadaw soldiers, land confiscation and drug-related human rights abuses in Win Yay, Kawkareik and Kyainseikgyi townships between December 2018 and February 2019
Sub-title: This Situation Update describes events that occurred in Win Yay, Kawkareik and Kyainseikgyi townships, Dooplaya District, between December 2018 and February 2019. These include human rights abuses such as school corporal punishment by a KECD teacher; thef
Description: "Access to the Karen Education and Culture Department’s (KECD)[3] education system has improved in Win Yay Township over the last few years, and most of the schools have started teaching Karen language already. However, some teachers don’t respect school hours or give heavy punishment to the students. In 2018, KECD primary school teacher Ma Tin Cho reportedly beat two students in H--- village, Kyainseikgyi Township, because they were not wearing Karen shirts. As a result, their parents stopped sending their children to this school, as one of them reported to KHRG: “Wewill send our children back toschool only when we can affordto buy them Karen shirts.” Therefore, they had to send their children to the closest Myanmar government school or to S--- village’s school, Chaung Hson village tract, Kyainseikgyi Township...On February 23rd and March 15th 2019, Tatmadaw soldiers came to the P--- resettlement site, Lay Wah Plo (Kyain Kyaung) village tract, Kyainseikgyi Township to check how many households and inhabitants there were in the village following the recent return of refugees from Thai camps. They also questioned locals about which organisations were operating there. That situation raised security concerns among returnees, as the Tatmadaw has a long history of perpetrating human rights violations against civilians in Southeast Myanmar.[5] The returnees also face livelihood difficulties. Since they were not given agricultural lands to work on, most are engaged in intermittent, casual work. They also do not feel safe because of there are have been some thefts in P---, and drug dealers also operate in the area..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-02
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Type: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 292.5 KB
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Title: Mergui-Tavoy Interview: Land Confiscation by the Asia World Company, March 2019
Summary: "What have you experienced during these 60 years? Have you experienced any land problems, human rights violations, or other issues? We lived a normal life here in the village and the Tatmadaw [...
Sub-title: In 2000, the Asia World Company [1] confiscated around 1,000 acres of local people's land in Ler Muh Lah Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, resulting in livelihood difficulties for local civilians. Some of the victims were also held captive and subjected to
Description: "What have you experienced during these 60 years? Have you experienced any land problems, human rights violations, or other issues? We lived a normal life here in the village and the Tatmadaw [forced us] to relocate and live near the road in 1976 and 1977. It was not easy to secure our livelihood there. Therefore, we came back and lived together here in the village. Then we built houses and other buildings step by step to rebuild our village. In 1976 and 1977, we were blessed as no one was killed. Now, some of us are working on plantations and some are working on hill farms and plain farms. We heard that one company came into the village and confiscated the local people’s land. But we don’t know when it was. Do you know about that? Yes, it was the Asia World Company. They came in 2000 […] and planted palm oil trees in the local areas without telling us anything. We could not prioritise and concentrate on that issue because we had to work for our livelihood, and we didn’t know what to tell them or how to tell them. They planted in the whole area where our village lands were located. Sometimes, they even had arguments and problems with us. One year after they planted the [palm oil trees], their workers burned the lands and then attacked and threatened the local people and demanded money from them. I also experienced it myself. They said that I burned their plants and they arrested me and held me for over one week. They took me to their place and then asked me to give them between 30,000,000 kyats and 50,000,000 kyats (between USD [4] 19,852 and USD 33,086). I did not do anything wrong so I did not give them any money. Later on they released me and they also arrested my ten workers. It was really hard..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-02
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Type: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 416.52 KB
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Title: Dooplaya Incident Report: Two Tatmadaw deserters killed seven civilians in Win Yay Township, April 2019
Summary: "The incident happened on April 5th 2019 outside of W--- village, Win Yay Township, Dooplaya District, in a mixed control area. Around 3:30 AM, two Tatmadaw deserters from LIB #339 and LIB #275,...
Description: "The incident happened on April 5th 2019 outside of W--- village, Win Yay Township, Dooplaya District, in a mixed control area. Around 3:30 AM, two Tatmadaw deserters from LIB #339 and LIB #275, Nyein Chan and Myint Wai, reached a local motorbike workshop located 15 minutes away from the village. When the owner refused to give them a motorbike, one of the soldiers shot him with his service rifle. The brother of the owner, who lived nearby, was also shot when he arrived at the scene. Then, the two deserters entered his house and shot a woman and children who were sleeping inside. They also shot the family members who tried to run away. In total, 7 persons were killed and one was injured. All the victims were from two local Muslim families. One of the family members, U F--- managed to escape. He ran to the village and reported the case to the village administrator, U H---, who immediately called the KNPF in Hpah Prah. When the KNPF reached the crime scene at around 3:50 AM, the perpetrators were already gone. They were later arrested by the KNPF, one at a KNLA checkpoint in Lut Shan and the other one outside W--- village, and handed over to the Tatmadaw. The Myanmar police from Three Pagodas Pass first banned the family from burying the dead bodies, presumably for investigation purposes. KNLA Battalion #16 ultimately allowed the family to proceed with the burials, as these should take place as soon as possible according to Islamic belief. The two deserters remain in military custody awaiting trial. Tatmadaw soldiers based in the area told KHRG that they are likely to face death penalty. However, local people do not know how the Tatmadaw is processing the case. Crimes committed by military personnel are handled by Myanmar’s military justice system. Proceedings of military courts are not public, which makes it difficult to obtain reliable information about pending cases.[2] Local people only found out about the killings in the next morning. Some of them were scared because they felt threatened by this incident. U H--- said that Tatmadaw soldiers from Strategic Operations Command’s (SOC) W--- military camp patrol every night around the village, which causes security concerns among civilians. He also said that weak leadership and management in the area contributed to this incident. He recommended to put an end to the mixed control system to fix these shortcomings, and advocated for the demilitarisation of the area: “We are minorities. We should only have one ruling system. The Tatmadaw should not stay next to the village anymore. We cannot predict whether this kind of incident will happen again. If something happens, it will be dangerous for us because the Tatmadaw established their camp close to the students [children have to travel in front of the camp to go to school] and to our religious land. This can cause additional concerns whenever innocent villagers are killed.” Operations Commander Soe Moe Kyaw from W--- SOC offered to give 5,000,000 kyats (USD 3267.17) to the victims’ family members in compensation, but U H--- said that they refused and asked for 10,000,000 kyats (USD 6534.35) per dead victim. As a result, no compensation was provided to the families for their deceased relatives. Daw P---, a woman who was injured during the incident, was admitted to hospital at her own expenses. She has now been discharged. A local interfaith organisation helped her with 1,000,000 kyats (USD 653.44). Commander Soe Moe Kyaw also gave her 1,000,000 kyats in compensation for her injury...."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-21
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: Hpapun District: Unpaid wages by the Min Bagan Company in Bu Tho Township, March 2018
Summary: "The incident took place in March 2018 in K--- village, Meh Klaw village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mutraw (Hpapun) District. U L --- other people from K--- village were working as informal day...
Description: "The incident took place in March 2018 in K--- village, Meh Klaw village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mutraw (Hpapun) District. U L --- other people from K--- village were working as informal day labourers on a road construction project between Mah Htaw and Htee Tha Bluh Hta village tracts for the Min Bagan Company. The company started the project in January 2018 and hired local people to work on the road and bridge construction. The operation was part of a community development project planned by the government. The Min Bagan company ran out of funds for the road construction and halted the project in March 2018. After that, U Thein Zaw, a Min Bagan Company engineer, did not pay the day labourers in full. Instead, he kept the money for himself and repeatedly postponed the payment. The day labourers should have received between 5,500 kyats (USD 3.62) [4] and 6,000 kyats (USD 3.95) per day for men and between 4,000 kyats (USD 2.63) and 5,000 kyats (USD 3.29) for women, but eighteen of them are still waiting for their wages to be paid in full. Even though the company promised to pay them, it has not done so yet. In total, U Thein Zaw still owes 1,612,000 kyats (USD 1,060) to U L--- and the other day labourers. The day labourers depend on their wages to secure their livelihoods and provide for their family, as they do not own enough lands to live off subsistence farming. As a result of non-payment, they went into debt to buy food, which caused them economic difficulties and anxiety. Ma E---, one of the day labourers, expressed her feelings to KHRG: “I felt really angry because we didn’t have money to buy goods.” As they still had not received their money, the day labourers discussed with K--- village leaders possible ways of taking action. They drafted and signed a complaint letter to reclaim the rest of their wages from the company, which they sent to the Chief Minister of Kayin State, Nan Khin Htway Myint, on August 13th 2018. After the road construction project was halted, people from K--- village were only able to engage in intermittent, informal work. Since January 2019, they have been working as day labourers on a road construction project for the Sein Sin Kyel Company. They now receive their wages on time, which has allowed them to pay back their debts. The project they are working on should be completed in July 2019. In June 2019, when a KHRG researcher followed up the U L---, he explained that he could not even contact U Thein Zaw anymore. In addition, he said that the complaint letter they submitted to the Chief Minister of Kayin State remained unanswered..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-21
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Type: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 421.15 KB
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Title: Mergui-Tavoy District: Land Confiscation by the A Lin Yaung Company in Ler Muh Lah Township, December 2018
Description: "Back in 1995, the population of Y--- village was forced to relocate to O--- village because of the conflict. That year, more than ten community members were killed while serving as forced porters for the Tatmadaw, prompting the locals to flee the village. They displaced again to H--- village from 1996 to 2001, before going back to Y--- village in 2002. In 2004, the Tanintharyi A Lin Yaung Company, a rubber company, confiscated all the customary lands in Y--- village to plant rubber trees. They confiscated over 450 acres, two-thirds of which was covered in cash or subsistence crops and trees, and expelled the returnees from the village. No compensation was provided to the victims, none of which had an official land title. The local population did not want to leave, but they had to after the company threatened to call upon the Tatmadaw to oust them. The Tanintharyi A Lin Yaung Company is owned by U Aung Lin. He is the husband of Daw Yee Yee Cho, who is currently serving as a member of the Tanintharyi Region Hluttaw (Parliament) for the National League for Democracy. Both of them live in Tavoy (Dawei). The local population had to stay in the nearby L--- village from 2004 to 2010. In 2010, they relocated to A--- village and stayed there until 2017. In A--- village, they received humanitarian assistance from the Karen National Union (KNU) in the form of rice, yellow beans, oil and small solar panels. However, it was not enough to cover their daily needs so some of them had to work as day labourers. In 2014, they reported their case to the Karen Affairs Minister of Tanintharyi Region. At the end of 2017, the local Myanmar authorities returned 150 acres of land to the local people community to live on, mostly land on which rubber trees had been planted before. As a result, in 2017 and 2018, some families were able to return to Y--- village, while others moved to other places. About 36 households are now living in Y--- village, 187 people in total. Each household was given two acres of lands. They had to cut down the rubber trees and clear the land to build their houses. However, returnees do not have enough land to farm on to secure their livelihoods. Most of them cut bamboos to make mats, which they sell in order to buy rice. Some are engaged in intermittent, informal work for up to MMK 5,000 (US $3.29) a day. Because of a lack of farmlands, the living conditions of the local population are very poor. People in Y--- village face food shortages and do not have safe shelters. They do not have access to proper toilets and cannot afford to buy mosquito nets to protect themselves from diseases such as dengue or malaria. In addition, they do not have access to healthcare services. Access to water is also a problem because of the lack of wells. Locals mostly get water from the river, but its salt levels are sometimes too high for domestic use. Because there is no school, children cannot access education in the village, and have to travel long distances to study in neighbouring villages..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-21
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Type: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 567.12 KB
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Title: ‘If I had known, I wouldn’t have returned to Myanmar’: Shortcomings in Refugee Repatriation and Reintegration
Summary: ""In the camp, food rations were reduced, and we no longer received bamboo or wood to fix our homes. We faced challenges for our family livelihoods and we had to sneak out of the camp to go collect...
Description: ""In the camp, food rations were reduced, and we no longer received bamboo or wood to fix our homes. We faced challenges for our family livelihoods and we had to sneak out of the camp to go collect wood and bamboo. This is why I decided to return to Myanmar.” Naw Y---, a recently repatriated refugee Between February 20th and 23rd 2019, more than 500 men, women and children from five refugee camps, including Karenni refugee camps, in Thailand, returned to Myanmar.[1] This third refugee repatriation process was facilitated by the Thai and Myanmar governments, the UNHCR, and other humanitarian aid organisations. To shed light on this process and understand how resettled refugees are adjusting to their new lives, KHRG conducted interviews with 13 repatriated refugees in Mae La Way Ler Moo (Mae La Hta)[2] and Lay Hpa Htaw[3] resettlement sites in March and April 2019. These refugees – six men and seven women – came from Nu Poe, Ban Don Yang (Thaw Pa) and Mae La (Beh Klaw) refugee camps. KHRG also interviewed three local leaders responsible for the resettlement sites from the Karen National Union (KNU) and the KNU/KNLA Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC). The testimonies of the recently repatriated refugees reveal a stark reality. The journey to their new homes was spent cramped in the back of dusty trucks, without enough food or water. A lack of basic social services, agricultural lands and income-generating opportunities awaited them on their arrival to resettlement sites. Resettled refugees are also concerned by the close proximity of Tatmadaw army camps to their new homes, and by the fact that the land surrounding resettlement sites is contaminated by unexploded ordnances (UXOs)..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-21
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: NYAUNGLEBIN DISTRICT: TATMADAW ROAD CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES LEAD TO CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE KNLA, DISPLACEMENT AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IN KYAUKKYI TOWNSHIP
Description: "From February until early April 2019, intermittent confrontations between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA resulted in the displacement of at least 108 people in Kheh Der village tract. The fighting broke out because the Tatmadaw is undertaking controversial road construction works despite the objection of local communities and the KNU. Sporadic armed clashes leading to displacement In early February 2019, a Tatmadaw soldier was shot and injured in Muh Theh while he was building a road between the villages of Muh Theh and Pa Kaw Hta (Hkee). This incident occurred in a KNU-controlled area in Kheh Der village tract, Kyaukkyi Township, Nyaunglebin District. KHRG has not been able to confirm who fired at the soldier. Local people believe that he was shot because the Tatmadaw was engaged in road construction activities despite repeated objections from the local community and KNU leaders. On February 23rd 2019 around noon, a second Tatmadaw soldier was shot while he was operating a backhoe to build a road in Aee Thar Plaw [area], Kyaukkyi Township. In retaliation, the Tatmadaw fired two artillery shells and other weapons toward the area where they thought the shot came from. According to local people, no further fighting occurred that day. The shelling did not result in civilian casualties or property damage. Following this incident, the Tatmadaw sent reinforcements to provide security for the road construction. On March 27th 2019 at 7:00 AM, fighting broke out between the KNLA and Tatmadaw soldiers between Muh Theh and Pa Kaw Hta (Hkee), reportedly because the Tatmadaw trespassed into KNU territory in violation of an oral agreement with the KNLA. No casualties were reported. These clashes are a clear violation of section 5 (a) of the NCA, which states that the Tatmadaw and Ethnic Armed Organisations shall not engage in armed attacks in ceasefire areas. In addition, both the Tatmadaw and the KNLA failed to act with the necessary diligence to avoid this confrontation, as they should have under section 7 (a). On April 2nd, 2019, a first group of local people fled Pa Kaw Hta (Hkee). Because of the fighting that broke out, they did not feel safe staying in their village. They cleared new lands, preparing a space where the rest of the village could settle. On April 4th, 2019, more dismantled their houses to move to this new place, which is located a 30-minute walk from the village. In total, 108 people from 34 households have already moved there, and they now face livelihood difficulties and difficulties accessing water. They told KHRG that they fled to protect themselves from renewed fighting between the KNLA and the Tatmadaw. They did not feel safe staying in Pa Kaw Hta (Hkee) because their village was close to the road. Other community members from Kheh Der village tract are now worried that fighting between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA might recur, and have started preparing to flee their villages should the situation worsen..."
Source/publisher: Progressive Voice via "Karen Human Rights Group"
Date of publication: 2019-04-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-05-10
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 835.54 KB
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Title: Hpapun Short Update: Skirmishes between the KNLA and Tatmadaw and indiscriminate shelling in Lu Thaw Township
Description: ''This Short Update describes a skirmish that took place between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA in February 2019. It took place after three incidents of Tatmadaw soldiers firing artillery shells indiscriminately into civilian villages. The local communities have fled into the forest, and are afraid to return to their homes and plantations. In the first week of February, the Tatmadaw transported soldiers and rations to bases in Lu Thaw Township. On February 1st, 60 Tatmadaw soldiers from LIB #593 were sent to military camps in Sha Law Kyoh area, Hkay Poo village tract. They are still present in the area. On February 4th, at 6 PM, Tatmadaw soldiers transported food rations to their camp in the Sho Kyoh Daw Hkoh area, Saw Muh Plaw village tract. At 7:30 PM, KNLA soldiers led by Bo Pa Leh and a local home guard from Company #1 ambushed two military trucks transporting rations. The KNU prohibits Tatmadaw soldiers from entering into areas under their control without receiving prior permission. This incident was one of a series of skirmishes that occurred between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA in early February in Hpapun District. On February 5th, 2019, Tatmadaw soldiers transported food rations to their temporary army camp in Shoh Hpoh Kyoh area and transported food rations and 216 soldiers to their army bases in Wah Klay Tuh area. The increase in military activities is worrying local communities in Lu Thaw Township, who fear that the increase in troop rotations and food rations could indicate a return to violent conflict. These skirmishes occurred just a few weeks after the Tatmadaw fired artillery shells into civilian villages in Lu Thaw Township...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2019-02-18
Date of entry/update: 2019-02-24
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: Nyaunglebin Situation Update: IDPs face difficulties returning to their villages of origin
Description: ''In 2016, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) returned to their 11 villages in the lowland areas of Moo Township. They had been displaced since 1975, when they were forced to leave by Tatmadaw Infantry Battalion #48, commanded by Bo Min Thein. In 2012, the KNU and the Myanmar government signed a preliminary ceasefire agreement that provided for the right of IDPs to return to their lands. Community leaders went to IDP camps to establish how many of them would come back. However, fewer people returned than originally expected. Overall, only one-fourth of the IDPs went back to their lands. According to community leaders, this could be explained by the fact that returnees did not benefit from any kind of support, apart from the CIDKP digging wells and providing animal husbandry. In addition, there are no schools, hospitals and clinics in these areas. The closest clinic can only be reached through a bumpy road, and it is not easy to travel during the rainy season. Some IDPs are afraid to return because the Tatmadaw is still operating in the Hpapun area. Others also think that the political situation is not stable yet. Since their return, there are a lot of land dispute problems. Some returnees saw their livelihoods threatened when their family lands were usurped by richer villagers. These villagers took advantage of the fact that the rightful owners did not have official land ownership documents, and went to the Myanmar Land Administration Department to register the disputed lands in their names. The people who lost their lands are now experiencing serious economic difficulties, as they were deprived of their main source of income...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2019-01-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-02-08
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 319.07 KB
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Title: Statement: International Day of Education (24 January 2019)
Description: ''As the world observes the first International Day of Education, KHRG calls for urgent measures to be taken to ensure that all children in Myanmar can benefit from a free and high-quality education in their native language. Indeed, accessing education continues to be a challenge in rural areas of Southeast Myanmar. This situation contributes to the social and economic marginalisation of local people, further undermining the full enjoyment of their human rights and preventing them from stepping out of poverty. According to UNICEF, Myanmar has the second lowest youth literacy rate among ASEAN countries, which illustrates the failure of the government to meet its obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the country’s Constitution. Over the last years, the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement coupled with greater public investment have improved access to education in some parts of Southeast Myanmar. However, local children still lack comprehensive access to education materials and free, high-quality schools within a safe distance from their community. In parallel, educational fees and hidden costs further undermine the right to education for families facing livelihood and food security issues. Middle and high school education is particularly difficult to access due to higher fees and a lack of facilities in rural areas. Many villagers also remain displaced in refugee or IDP camps, which affects the quality and stability of their access to education. Sporadic armed clashes force others to temporarily leave their village, thus interrupting the activity of schools. KHRG also documented that trust in government teachers is undermined by cases of abuse against students, including sexual violence and corporal punishment...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2019-01-24
Date of entry/update: 2019-02-08
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Title: Toungoo Situation Update: Tatmadaw military activities continue in Htantabin and Thaundaunggyi townships
Description: ''Units from the Tatmadaw Infantry Battalion #5, stationed in the Nat Ta Lin area in 2018, rotated with Tatmadaw Infantry Battalion #84. They placed landmines near Htee Hkuh area, where KNLA military units are stationed. [Article 5 of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement states that all signatories should cease the laying of mines. Tatmadaw Infantry Battalion #5 is in violation of the NCA.] Landmines continue to be a problem in Toungoo District. The NGO Committee of Internally Displaced Karen People (CIDKP) is running a Mine Risks Education (MRE) program to help local communities avoid the dangers of landmines, supported by Danish Church Aid. The landmines are located in Buh Has Hkee area and Maw Hkee road, starting from Th’ay Hta to Pluh Mee Hkoh area. The landmines were laid by the Tatmadaw and the KNLA prior to the ceasefire. So far, demining has not started in this area...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2019-01-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-02-08
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
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Title: Dooplaya Incident Report: Child Rape Case, March 2018
Description: A fifteen-year-old girl, Naw M---, was raped by her brother-in-law Saw H---.The incident took place on Monday, 12 March 2018 at 11 PM in Poe Yay village tract, Kyainseikgyi Township. This incident happened at night, when everyone was sleeping. Saw H--- approached his sister-in-law and took off all of her clothes while she was sleeping. She woke up with a jolt and realized that she had no more clothes on her and that there was a person on top of her. When she started shouting, Saw H--- put his hands over her mouth. She could not shout or even move because her brother-in-law was much stronger than her. The perpetrator is over 30 years old. He was drunk when he raped Naw M---. He had a reputation for having a bad character and acting inappropriately towards his wife and his sister-in-law. Naw M---’s sister did not hear or witness the rape. She was sleeping at the time. The next morning, Naw M--- told her sister that she was raped. Her sister confronted her Saw H--- about this, but he denied any wrongdoing. Instead, he threw a shot glass at her.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-25
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 667.11 KB
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Title: Dooplaya Situation Update: Kyainseikgyi Township, March to June 2018
Description: ''In May 2018, a soldier from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) had a dispute with local community members in Daw Ka Kloh village, Noh Taw Plah village tract, Noh T’Kaw Township. Five local villagers cut down a tree close to the field of DKBA Deputy Company Commander Saw Kee, based in Noh Moh Wah army camp. The commander of this battalion was Pa Nyein. Saw Kee was upset because he thought the tree belonged to him. He said that the five villagers did not respect him, and took advantage of his absence to cut down the tree. He behaved in an aggressive way to the local people, and threw their electric saw on the ground...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-12-19
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-24
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 467.13 KB
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Title: Hpapun Incident Report: A village head sustained serious injuries after being tortured by BGF #1014 in Bu Tho Township, November 2018
Description: ''On 28 November 2018, Saw K---, the village head of T---, was on his way back from Hkaw Taw Poo [Myaing Gyi Ngu]. He was travelling with two local teachers returning from the funeral of U Thuzana. They were travelling by boat on the Pweh Loh Kloh river between Myaing Gyi Ngu and T--- village. On that day, BGF #1014 had set up an informal checkpoint at the end of the Htee Lah Beh Hta Bridge. According to local people, it was not a regular checkpoint. This particular BGF checkpoint did not allow people to cross the river after 5 PM. On 28 November 2018, Saw K--- crossed the Pweh Loh Kloh river with a few travellers. According to local witnesses, they arrived at the check point at 5:58 PM, after which the village head got off the boat and made himself known to BGF #1014. Then, the platoon commander Hpo Dah ordered a soldier, Kyeh Nee, to beat the village head. Following that order, the soldier beat Saw K--- with a bamboo stick without any explanation. Saw K--- was the only one beaten by the soldier. The local people travelling with him saw him faint after his head was hit twice. The soldier proceeded to beat his body, which left him with very serious injuries...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-12-18
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-24
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 535.62 KB
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Title: Hpapun Incident Report: Land confiscation by armed actors impede refugee return in Bu Tho Township, February 2018
Description: This incident happened on 7 February 2018 in K---Village, Ka Ma Maung Town, Hpapun district [K---Village, Htee Tha Daw Hta village tract, Bu Tho Township, Hpapun district]. ''In 2013, a KNU/KNLA-Peace Council[2] soldier, Saw Nyun Htun, confiscated 4.68 acres of land belonging to a local villager who had fled to Thailand. When the villager returned to his home in 2018, he reported the land confiscation to the Karen National Union. When he found out about this, Saw Nyun Htun threatened him. Saw Y--- lived in K---Village, but his family fled to Thailand when the conflict in the area escalated after the creation of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (“DKBA”)[3] in 1994. They registered as refugees in Mae La Ma Luang camp in Thailand. The DKBA took advantage of this situation to confiscate all their lands. Both the DKBA and the KNU/KNLA-PC confiscated land belonging to families that had fled the violence in the area. After the signing of the preliminary ceasefire between the KNU and the Myanmar government in 2012 and the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in 2015, the situation in Karen State became more stable. Saw Y--- decided to return to his village after more than 20 years of living in a refugee camp. He is now 47 years old and has seven children. All of them have returned with him...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-12-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-24
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 515.88 KB
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Title: Hpapun Situation Update: Fighting breaks out between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA in Lu Thaw Township
Description: ''On 17 January 2019, Tatmadaw soldiers trespassed into KNU controlled areas, which resulted in a skirmish with KNLA units in Hsoh Poh Kyoh, Ler Muh Plaw village tract. At 1:35 PM, the KNLA also opened fire on Tatmadaw trucks circulating near Htee Pweh and Kuh Day villages, Hpla Hkoh village tract. [Radio Free Asia reported that another skirmish took place in Baw Hser Hkoh, Ler Muh Plaw village tract on the same day, in the context of road construction activities by the Tatmadaw. The fighting resulted in the death of a Tatmadaw soldier.][2] Later that day, the Tatmadaw sent a bulldozer from Htaw Muh Pleh Meh military camp to Wa Klay Too village, Ler Muh Plaw village tract, and to Saw Muh Plaw village tract. [This confirms that the Tatmadaw is resuming road construction activities in the area. In 2018, these activities had resulted in several skirmishes with the KNLA, leading to the displacement of 3,088 civilians in the period between March and May.[3] The road project was ultimately halted on 17 May 2018 following a meeting between the KNU chairman and the Tatmadaw chief, Sen. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2019-01-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-24
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 174.85 KB
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Title: Hpapun Situation Update: Tatmadaw road construction activities results in skirmishes with the KNLA and displacement in Lu Thaw Township
Description: ''This Situation Update describes events that occurred in Lu Thaw Township, Hpapun District, between March and May 2018.[1] Tatmadaw soldiers entered areas under KNU control in Lu Thaw Township with the intention of building a road. This led to skirmishes with the KNLA. The Tatmadaw occupied and fired mortars in several villages, which caused the displacement of 3,088 persons. This situation threatened the livelihood of local people, as well as their access to education, food and healthcare...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2019-01-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-24
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 97.03 KB
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Title: Mergui-Tavoy Situation Update: Extortion and Land Confiscations in Tanintharyi Township, November 2017 to January 2018
Description: ''In Beh Khoh Paw Plaw village, Tatmadaw Battalion 53 is extorting money from villagers who depend on rubber cultivation for their livelihoods. They intimidate workers into paying 20,000 kyat (US $12.61) as a monthly tax for each rubber processing machine. Tatmadaw Battalion 53 has also confiscated wood from local villagers. They forced them to hand over planks of wood that they had logged in a neighbouring forest. Tatmadaw Battalion 53 subsequently used the wood to build their army camp...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-12-17
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-24
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 356.26 KB
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Title: Toungoo Interview: Repeated instances of land confiscations harm the livelihoods of local community members, November 2017
Description: "In 1993, the construction of the P?Thi Dam led to land confiscations and widespread displacement. Stripped of their land, many subsistence farmers became day wage labourers, working under difficult conditions. This land confiscation continues to impact the livelihoods of local people to this day. The displaced communities have yet to receive any compensation, or even to benefit from a connection to electricity. Despite this, villagers continue to reclaim their ancestral lands through consultation and court hearings. Since the construction of the hydropower dam, this community has faced a series of successive land confiscations by private companies. The remaining land has been confiscated by the Tatmadaw. Local plantations are being used for shooting practice, threatening the security of local farmers. The community wants the Tatmadaw to withdraw the camp from their lands..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-11-13
Date of entry/update: 2018-11-19
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: Hpapun Interview: Naw K---, April 2018
Description: "Since early 2018, Tatmadaw has extended the area under their control and trespassed into territory controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU). They built a military road without prior permission from KNU authority and local civilians. In this context, Tatmadaw soldiers murdered the indigenous defender Saw O Moo on April 5th 2018 when he was on his way back home after a meeting to coordinate humanitarian aid for internally displaced people (IDPs). The location of Saw O Moo?s body is unknown. His family has been unable to hold a funeral according to their animist tradition. Naw K--- is calling for peace. She urges the Tatmadaw to withdraw all of their troops from her area in order for her family and other local civilians to live in peace..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-09-28
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-24
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Type: Individual Documents
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Size: 179.01 KB
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Title: Mergui-Tavoy Interview: Naw H---, February 2018
Description: "In this Interview, Naw H--- describes how she was repeatedly raped and physically abused by her employer, Hpa Tee Ng?Htun. At the time, she was working as a maid in the perpetrator?s house, while his wife was away taking care of her sick child. After he raped Naw H--- the first time, Hpa Tee Ng?Htun threatened to kill her if she spoke about this incident. He did not allow her to go back home and continued to rape her repeatedly. Naw H--- became pregnant..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-09-28
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-24
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: Fighting breaks out between Tatmadaw and KNLA near the proposed Hatgyi dam site
Description: "This Short Update describes fighting that broke out between Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Company #4 and the Tatmadaw Light Infantry Division #44 subordinated Infantry Battalion #2 in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District. The fighting took place on 28th August 2018 in Htee Meh Klar area, and east of T?lar Aw Koh village the following morning. On 31st August, the Tatmadaw resorted to indiscriminate shelling around Ka Nyee Naw village. These skirmishes were triggered by the Tatmadaw entering into KNLA controlled territory in search of the Democratic Karen Buddist Army splinter group, without obtaining prior consent from the KNLA. However, a KNLA commander believes that the Tatmadaw was trying to establish control of the areas in proximity to the proposed Hatgyi dam site..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-09-07
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-06
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Type: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 394.99 KB
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Title: Toungoo Interview: Saw Cn--- and Naw Dq---, November 2017
Description: "This Interview with Saw Cn--- describes different village agency strategies used by villagers to regain their confiscated lands in Htantabin Township, Toungoo District in November 2017. Since 2000, authorities of the Ba Yint Naung military training school have confiscated 1,521 acres of villagers? plantations in Htantabin Township. The Tatmadaw used these lands as firing fields for soldiers, which caused major damages to villager?s farmlands [plantations]. The Tatmadaw has not provided compensation for any of the damaged plantations..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-08-31
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-06
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: A month after the New Mon State Party joins the NCA: Skirmishes occur between the MNLA and the KNLA in Win Yay Township, Dooplaya District
Description: "This News Bulletin analyses the skirmishes that broke out between the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) on the border between Mergui-Tavoy District and Dooplaya District in February and March 2018. Although both the New Mon State Party and the Karen National Union are signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), skirmishes broke out several times between the MNLA and the KNLA between February and March 2018. Tensions between the armed groups increased because of a dispute about logging, in an area contested by both armed groups in Dooplaya District..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-09-14
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-05
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Type: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 412.58 KB
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Title: Thaton Situation Update: Bilin Township, January to March 2018
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bilin Township, Thaton District during the period between January and March 2018. It includes information on arbitrary tax collection by the Tatmadaw, KNU responses to drug use and drug trafficking, as well as a logging dispute. Tatmadaw Battalion commander Bo Than Zin from Light Infantry Battalion #210 under Light Infantry Division #22 arbitrarily collected taxes from villagers who own wood processing machines in Lay Kay and Ler Hklaw villages. Because the KNU does not have the means to test for drugs, they fined drug users and drug traffickers based on information provided in the community. The KNU is trying to respond to an increase in drug use and trafficking. The KNU Township and District authorities gave permission to local people to log for wood in Bilin Township. This permission was revoked once wood was sent to Bilin Town, instead of being used by the local community..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-09-25
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-05
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Type: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 217.49 KB
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Title: Hpapun Incident Report: Explicit Threats in Dwe Lo Township, April 2018
Description: "This Incident Report describes the fighting that broke out between Tatmadaw and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) on April 6th 2018 after Tatmadaw Light Infantry Division (LID) #22 trespassed the Karen National Union (KNU) controlled area. Armed LID #22 personnel entered Hm--- village right after the fighting took place and intimidated villagers by firing guns and making explicit oral threats. The village head was ordered to purchase a chicken for a Tatmadaw soldier. However, no remuneration was provided in return..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-09-28
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-04
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Type: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 255.1 KB
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Title: Hpapun Incident Report: Forced portering and extortion in Bu Tho and Dwe Lo townships, October 2017
Description: "This Incident Report describes how the Border Guard Forces (BGF) Battalion #1014 ordered civilians to serve as forced porters on the front line. When local villagers refused to serve as porters, they were asked to hand over 180,000 kyat (US $ 112) as payment from each village. This incident took place in October 2017, in a number of village tracts located Bu Tho Township and Dwe Lo Township, Hpapun District..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-09-28
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-04
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Type: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 396.94 KB
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Title: Mergui-Tavoy Situation Update: K?Ser Doh Township, March to May 2017
Description: "Since February 2017, gold mining in Paw Hkloe has contaminated streams and waterways, upon which the local population depends on for their drinking water. The road construction between Hkay Tu Toe and Hpaw Taw The Weh Pa Meh area has caused damage to local plantations. The company contracted to build this road did not provide compensation to local villagers because they argued that the road is being built for the benefit of civilian populations. Situation Update | K?Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District (March to May 2017) The following Situation Update was received by KHRG in June 2017. It was written by a community member in Mergui-Tavoy District who has been trained by KHRG to monitor human rights conditions. It is presented below translated exactly as originally written, save for minor edits for clarity and security..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-09-28
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-04
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Type: Individual Documents
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Size: 253.1 KB
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Title: Mergui-Tavoy Situation Update: Tanintharyi Township, November 2017 to March 2018
Description: "This Situation Update provides information on the restriction of Karen language in schools, environmental pollution due to lead mining, drug trafficking, and land confiscations in Tanintharyi Township, Mergui-Tavoy District. Access to learning Karen language is limited in Tanintharyi Township. Lead mining has increased in Kay Hkee and Kay villages, Tanintharyi Township. It has caused the contamination of many water streams, and has polluted the natural environment. Between January and March 2018, when the Shway Kyun Aa Man Company was building a road, they damaged 300 rubber plants owned by Saw W---. The company did not compensate him for the damaged property..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-09-28
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-04
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Type: Individual Documents
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Size: 361.6 KB
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Title: Thaton Interview: Saw N---, June 2017
Description: "In June 2017, Karen National Union (KNU) Thaton Township leaders held a consultation meeting about the development of a limestone quarry and cement factory. They only invited local leaders from Min Lwin village tract, Thaton Township. During this consultation meeting, they did not provide adequate information about the impact of this factory on the local community. Instead, they distributed assessment survey forms to all local community members. The lack of adequate information led to disagreements among the local community. The process of gaining the consent of the local community has been controversial. Households that live far from the Mountain were included in the process, even though they are not directly impacted by the limestone quarry and cement factory. Many households who signed their names did not realise this would constitute consent to the development project. The names of people who have emigrated to Thailand were also found among the signatures of people agreeing to the development of a limestone quarry on Min Lwin Mountain. Local people predict that the negative consequences of the limestone quarry on Min Lwin Mountain are the loss of community forest, environmental damage and the loss of biodiversity, farm lands, plantations and potential displacement due to livelihood problems..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-09-28
Date of entry/update: 2018-10-04
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language:
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Size: 239.94 KB
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Title: Hlaingbwe Interview: Saw Z---, November 2017
Description: "This Interview with Saw Z--- describes events occurring in Hlaingbwe Township, Hpa-an District, during the period between October and November 2017, including information about military activities, instances of forced labour, health and livelihoods..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-06-08
Date of entry/update: 2018-06-21
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: Hpapun Incident Report: Tatmadaw activities in Lu Thaw Township, January 2018
Description: "This Incident Report describes Tatmadaw military activities that occurred in Lu Thaw Township in January 2018. They include: strengthening army camps, enlarging territory, and sending rations, trucks and backhoes with the stated objective of expanding the military operation road in Lu Thaw Township, Hpapun District. This occurred without Tatmadaw receiving prior permission from the Karen National Union (KNU) and local civilians..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-06-21
Date of entry/update: 2018-06-21
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
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Title: Hpapun Interview: Naw H---, December 2017
Description: "This Interview with Naw H--- describes events occurring in Dwe Lo Township, Hpapun District, during the period between 2015 and 2017, including information about drugs, gambling, sexual assault and rape, arbitrary killing, education and health..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-06-18
Date of entry/update: 2018-06-21
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: A Karen Community Leader, Saw O Moo, Was Murdered by Tatmadaw forces in Hpapun District, April 2018
Description: "On April 5th 2018, Saw O Moo was murdered by Tatmadaw forces on the edge of Htee Hsee Hta Plaw [also known as T?Ree Plaw] farm area, Ler Mu Plaw village tract, Lu Thaw Township. He was on his way back home from a meeting to organise humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people (IDPs). Until now, the Tatmadaw has refused to allow his family to retrieve his body and bury it according to the traditional Karen way. This News Bulletin will pay tribute to the important work that Saw O Moo did for his community, and will analyse how his murder violated the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) Code of Conduct..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2018-06-15
Date of entry/update: 2018-06-21
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles: Women?s testimonies from southeast Myanmar - English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
Description: "This report presents women?s testimonies in respect of various issues during the reporting period of January 2012 to March 2016. These issues include the dangers posed to women by the presence of armed actors in communities; the effects of land confiscation and development projects on women?s livelihoods; women?s access to healthcare and education; the continued occurrence of gender-based violence; and the harms caused by landmines; forced labour; arbitrary taxation and extortion. Importantly, women?s actions and agency in the face of abuse and injustice are also documented in this report. These agency strategies are documented to highlight women?s actions as women are not passive recipients of abuse...KHRG presents the perspectives of local women on issues identified by them, including livelihoods, militarisation,health, education, and others. The report outlines human rights abuses that are of particular concern for women, including gender-based violence (GBV), and how continued human rights abuses in southeast Myanmar affect women and men differently, an aspect that is often overlooked. In addition, it highlights the agency strategies that women employ for self-protection, and the challenges they face when attempting to access justice for abuses. Finally, the report suggests ways to address the issues raised and improve the situation for women in southeast Myanmar, by giving concrete recommendations to the Government of Myanmar, ethnic armed organisations, local and international civil society organisations, and the international community supporting the peace process and in Myanmar. KHRG is confident that this report will provide a valuable resource for practitioners and stakeholders working on issues related to southeast Myanmar, and that it can be used as a tool in developing an awareness of local women?s concerns and agency. KHRG also believes that the report will be equally interesting for members of the general public who would like to learn more about women?s perspectives of the situation on the ground in rural southeast Myanmar..." pdf links in html version
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2016-08-03
Date of entry/update: 2016-08-04
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ), Karen
Local URL:
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Title: Thaton Situation Update: Thaton Township, July to October 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Thaton Township, Thaton District between July and October 2015. It also includes updates on land confiscation, education, healthcare, military activities, and development projects. • On November 15th 2014, a Thaw Maw villager in Noh Ta Hsguh village tract reported that Tyre Factory #2 had confiscated 250 acres of land, belonging to Thaw Maw villagers. They had also planted rubber trees on the confiscated land. Due to decreasing rubber prices, the factory owners are now selling the land back to the villagers, at a price of 60,000 kyat (US $46.20) per acre. • Following the signing of the 2012 preliminary ceasefire, the Burma/Myanmar government, the Karen National Union (KNU), and other organisations have increased their education activities and support in Thaton Township. However, despite a growing number of schools and more external support, some parents are still facing financial difficulties sending their children to school. • The Burma/Myanmar government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have built new clinics in Thaton Township. Nonetheless, villagers are still facing difficulties accessing healthcare and adequate medicine. As healthcare in the towns continues to be an option mainly for the more affluent, some villagers continue to seek treatment in their villages or in KNU-controlled areas..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) - KHRG #15-101-S1 Thaton
Date of publication: 2016-04-19
Date of entry/update: 2016-05-04
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 219.4 KB
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Title: Dooplaya Photo Set: Road construction and expansion results in destruction of villagers? plantations in Kyonedoe and Kyainseikgyi townships, December 2014 to July 2015
Description: "his Photo Set illustrates road construction and expansion taking place in Kyainseikgyi and Kyonedoe townships, Dooplaya District between December 2014 and July 2015. These projects, managed by Khin Zaw Company, as well as another unknown company that has been subcontracted by the Burma/Myanmar government, destroyed villagers? betel nut and rubber plantations. The affected villagers have not yet received any compensation for their losses..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2016-03-09
Date of entry/update: 2016-04-10
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 402.94 KB
Local URL:
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Title: Hpapun Field Report: January to December 2013
Description: "This Field Report includes information submitted by KHRG community members describing events which occurred in Hpapun District between January and December 2013. The report describes human rights violations, including sexual harassment, violent abuses, landmine incidents, forced labour, land confiscation, gold mining, arbitrary taxation, and theft and looting. In addition, fighting between Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and Border Guard Force (BGF) soldiers resulted in injury and displacement of villagers. The report also documents villagers? concerns regarding the stability of the 2012 preliminary ceasefire and issues important to the local communities, such as access to education and healthcare. - Between January and December 2013, villagers reported ongoing militarization and use of landmines by Tatmadaw and BGF soldiers in Bu Tho and Dwe Lo townships, resulting in fatalities and injury to villagers and livestock. - BGF soldiers committed human rights abuses such as sexual harassment, violent abuse, and demands for forced labour from villagers in Bu Tho Township. - Monk U Thuzana?s followers ordered villagers to perform forced labour for the monk?s bridge construction project. - A private gold mining enterprise has been endangering villagers? health in Dwe Lo Township. Villagers expressed their opposition to gold mining projects in the area by producing placards and posting them along the road and the river..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2016-03-02
Date of entry/update: 2016-04-10
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 1.3 MB
Local URL:
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Title: Thaton Situation Update: Bilin Township, October 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bilin Township, Thaton District in October 2015, including updates on the 2015 general election, education, and development projects. - Villages under the administration of the Burma/Myanmar government are able to vote in the 2015 general election. However, villages located in Karen National Union (KNU) controlled areas have not been adequately informed ahead of the election. - Local Karen teachers selected to teach in villages have had to resign after Burma/Myanmar government teachers were sent to teach in Bilin Township, sparking concerns that Karen language education will be given less attention and taught outside of school hours. - Heavy rain and floods damaged paddies, and, combined with an increase in the paddy price, caused livelihood concerns among some villagers. - The main roads that have been under construction in Bilin Township since 2013 will be completed during 2016. Although useful for the villagers, the road construction has caused problems for some villagers whose lands have been damaged..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2016-02-25
Date of entry/update: 2016-04-10
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 501.81 KB
Local URL:
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Title: Hpapun Incident Report: Landmine kills one buffalo and injures two in Bu Tho Township, April 2015
Description: "This Incident Report describes a landmine incident in A--- village in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District on April 13th 2015, that left one buffalo dead and two injured as one of the animals stepped on a landmine. The mine had been planted by soldiers from Company #2 of Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1013. Saw B---, the owner of the buffaloes, had not received any compensation at the time of writing this report. - See more at: http://khrg.org/2016/03/15-68-i5/hpapun-incident-report-landmine-kills-one-buffalo-and-injures-two-bu-tho-township#sthash.p9Pj1l6B.dpuf..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2016-03-07
Date of entry/update: 2016-04-09
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 205.41 KB
Local URL:
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Title: Hpapun Situation Update: Dwe Lo Township, August to October 2015
Description: Hpapun (Mutraw) District "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Dwe Lo Township, Hpapun District between August and October 2015, including forced labour, land confiscation, and livelihood issues. - Soldiers from Tatmadaw Infantry Battalion (IB) #96 in Dwe Lo Township, forced villagers in A--- valley to transport their supplies and the only compensation the villagers were given was petrol. - The Karen National Union (KNU) organised for land confiscation victims in Meh Thoo and Meh Way village tracts to receive two million kyat (US $1,547.80) per acre as compensation. - Since the signing of the 2012 preliminary ceasefire agreement, displaced persons in Dwe Lo Township have been able to return to their old villages...."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2016-03-09
Date of entry/update: 2016-04-09
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 458.57 KB
Local URL:
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Title: They Poured Petrol Around My House and Burnt Down My House: KHRG Interview with Karen Villager
Description: "Below are excerpts of Karen Human Rights Group?s (KHRG) interview with Ma A—, a Karen villager who describes events occurring in her village in June 2015, including land confiscation, forced relocation, attack on a village and villagers, threatening, looting, arbitrary detention and threats to children?s right to education. The interview was conducted in Thaton District in July 2015 by a community member trained by KHRG to monitor local human rights conditions."
Source/publisher: Burma Link
Date of publication: 2015-08-26
Date of entry/update: 2016-03-17
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Local URL:
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Title: Toungoo Field Report: December 2013 to December 2014
Description: "This Field Report describes events occurring in Toungoo District between December 2013 and December 2014. During this period, KHRG mainly received reports from Thandaunggyi Township and surrounding areas. The report includes information submitted by KHRG community members on a range of human rights abuses and issues of importance to local communities including land confiscation, militarisation, fighting between armed groups, commercial activity carried out by military actors, violent abuse, access to education, access to healthcare, and development projects. • There have been ongoing cases of land confiscation at the hands of the Tatmadaw, for the purpose of building Burma/Myanmar government offices, establishing military target practice areas and increasingly, for plantations, commercial projects, and sale to private companies. • Militarisation in Toungoo District has continued, despite the 2012 preliminary ceasefire between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burma/Myanmar government, with the Tatmadaw rotating troops and replenishing their rations and ammunitions at camps in remote areas. • A local militia, the Thandaung Special Region Peace Group, have been engaged in several commercial activities, including running gambling areas, logging, and stone mining, in order to raise funds to support their operations. All of these activities have had a disruptive effect on villagers, in particular the school students. • The Burma/Myanmar government has invested in providing financial support for school students in standards one to four in Toungoo District, however this has not always been effective as in some cases the money does not reach the students. • There continues to be a lack of access to adequate healthcare in Toungoo District; the Burma/Myanmar government has only built clinics in the village tracts close to main roads, there is a shortage of properly trained healthcare workers and in the case of villagers with lower incomes, treatment is often too expensive. • Between April and June 2014 there was a meeting that was headed by the Mya Sein Yaung company, with representatives from ten villages, on the subject of the company?s Reducing Poverty project being implemented in Thandaunggyi Township."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2016-02-25
Date of entry/update: 2016-02-25
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 381.98 KB
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Title: Dooplaya Situation Update: Kyainseikgyi Township, March to May 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Kyainseikgyi Township, Dooplaya District between March and May 2015, including violent clashes between armed groups, injury caused by a landmine, and militarisation... On March 10th 2015, fighting broke out between Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #549 and LIB #231, and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) in A--- section, M--- village, lasting for around 30 minutes. KHRG is unable to confirm whether any villagers were injured during the fighting... On April 17th 2015, 31-year-old Saw B--- from D--- village was hit by a landmine which was purportedly planted by the DKBA. He sustained injuries to his feet but survived the explosion.... DKBA Battalion #901 established a new army camp in C--- village on April 25th 2015..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-11-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-12-20
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Local URL:
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Title: Hpa-an Field Report: January to December 2013
Description: "This Field Report includes information submitted by KHRG researchers describing events occurring in Hpa-an District between January and December 2013. The report describes human rights violations, including drug production, sale and use, especially in Nabu Township; landmines and restrictions on the freedom of movement, land confiscation, arbitrary taxation, forced labour, extrajudicial killings and fighting between armed groups causing injury to civilians. The report also documents issues important to the local communities, such as access to education..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-01-19
Date of entry/update: 2015-12-20
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Local URL:
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Title: Mergui-Tavoy Situation Update: Ta Naw Th?Ree Township, January to May 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Ta Naw Th?Ree Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, during the period of January to May 2015, including military activity, access to education, and access to healthcare... In Ta Naw Th?Ree Township, the Tatmadaw have been using horses to transport rations to the border areas... A group of Burma/Myanmar government staff from Military Security Affairs, which is the Burma/Myanmar government?s intelligence agency, have also been active in the township, trying to gather intelligence on the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)... A local, anti-malaria community group entered the area and treated those who were suffering from malaria. A local non-governmental organisation (NGO) came once a month and provided vaccinations to the mothers and children in the villages. KNU health workers also visited the villages and provided medical treatment to the villagers... The Burma/Myanmar government is investing in the local government schools and sending their own trained teachers to teach in them. The Karen Education Department (KED) supports the Karen schools in Ta Naw Th?Ree Township by providing materials such as pens, notebooks, pencils, and clothes for the teachers..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-11-19
Date of entry/update: 2015-12-20
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Local URL:
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Title: Thaton Interview: Saw A---, October 2014
Description: "This Interview with Saw A--- describes events and issues occurring in Bilin Township, Thaton District, prior to and during October 2014, including militarisation, arbitrary taxation, restrictions on the freedom of movement, villagers? livelihoods, economic migration, education, and healthcare... Saw A---, who lives in B--- village, explains how there is an increasing amount of checkpoints in the area set up by armed groups, including the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Border Guard Force (BGF), the Karen National Union (KNU), as well as the Tatmadaw... These armed groups have been demanding crippling amounts of tax from Saw A---, who has worked as a livestock trader for over 20 years. The armed groups have been demanding around 5,000 to 10,000 kyat (US $4.45 to $8.90) in tax from Saw A--- on each pair of buffalo and cows he has with him when he passes through the various checkpoints in the area... Saw A--- also mentioned that due to a lack of career opportunities in Bilin Township, 20 young people from B--- village migrated to Thailand in search of employment..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-10-27
Date of entry/update: 2015-12-20
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Local URL:
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Title: BGF Battalion #1014 demands forced labour, asserts heavily militarised presence in villages in Hpapun District, June 2015
Description: "This News Bulletin describes forced labour and military activities in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District in June 2015... On June 12th 2015, the villagers of A--- village, Meh Pree village tract, Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District were forced to do unpaid labour by Plah Thoo and Plah Yu Say from Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1014. The villagers were ordered to carry water and collect vegetables and firewood for the BGF military camp... On June 14th 2015, the Tatmadaw soldiers from Light Infantry Division (LID) #22 came into B--- village, Kyaw Pah village tract with 35 Tatmadaw soldiers and two BGF soldiers. Since they were travelling through a KNLA restricted area, they were carrying heavy weapons as a display of power. They passed through the village on their way to C--- village, where they heard that the Karen armed groups would be holding a meeting..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-12-14
Date of entry/update: 2015-12-19
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Karen and Burmese
Local URL:
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Title: Complaint Letter to the chairperson of the Burma/Myanmar government Land Management Committee, November 2015
Description: "The Complaint Letter below was written by the Shwegyin Karen Baptist Association, a missionary association from Kyaukkyi Town, Kyaukkyi Township, Nyaunglebin District, and sent to the chairman of the Burma/Myanmar government Kyaukkyi Township Land Management Committee, on November 5th 2015. The letter concerns the Burma/Myanmar government?s construction of buildings on a Christian church compound. According to the letter, the compound has belonged to the church for 55 years. The Burma/Myanmar government has begun construction of a Cooperative Department building and plans to construct a Department of Rural Development building and commission offices within the church compound. This has been done without prior consultation with the Shwegyin Karen Baptist Association. The Shwegyin Karen Baptist Association reported to KHRG that they submitted the complaint letter to Burma/Myanmar government officials, members of the KNU, and other political parties, but they have not seen any action taken in response; instead the construction has continued. This report also includes details of earlier letters sent to authorities by the Shwegyin Karen Baptist Association in an attempt to have the church compound officially measured and recorded, to prevent the land from being confiscated..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-12-08
Date of entry/update: 2015-12-19
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Local URL:
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Title: Mergui-Tavoy Short Update: Ler Muh Lah Township, 1998 to 2013
Description: "This Short Update describes events occurring in Ler Muh Lah Township, Mergui-Tavoy District between 1998 and 2013, including forced relocation, torture, arbitrary arrest, and forced labour... In 1998, villagers now living in A--- village were forced to relocate by the Tatmadaw... In June 2011, the village head of A--- village was severely beaten by Tatmadaw soldiers as he was interrogated for information on suspected village connections to the Karen National Union (KNU). Based on information he eventually gave the Tatmadaw soldiers under torture, at least 15 villagers were arrested and held in jail... During the conflict, Tatmadaw soldiers led by Officer Nay Lin Soe arrested all the male villagers in A--- village and killed the village head. They forced all the male villagers to be sentries throughout the night, beating them if they fell asleep. This caused the rest of the villagers to flee to the forest for several weeks... After being forced to relocate by the Tatmadaw, the villagers have struggled with housing on their new land; since 2009, the owner of the new land has not permitted the villagers to build any new houses. The villagers have asked the Tatmadaw for support with this, as it was them who relocated the villagers to this land, but they have not received any help..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-11-23
Date of entry/update: 2015-12-19
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Local URL:
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Title: Thaton Field Report: January to December 2014
Description: "This field report describes events occurring in Thaton District between January and December 2014. It includes information submitted by KHRG researchers on a range of human rights abuses and other issues of importance to local communities, including arbitrary demands, forced labour, road construction and extension, stone mining, militarisation, land confiscation and commercial agricultural projects, and community development such as education, sanitation, and healthcare... According to reports received in 2014, Tatmadaw military activities remained the same, or even decreased in some townships in Thaton District, compared to previous years. Despite this, there were still three reports regarding human rights abuses committed by the Tatmadaw in 2014. These included cutting down villagers? trees and bamboo for the purpose of repairing their camp, as well as for secretly selling them for their own profit. On two occasions, villagers were forced by the Tatmadaw to do unpaid labour for them... In terms of education in Thaton District in 2014, international organisations, such as UNICEF and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), came into the area to support education, engaging in projects such as building schools for the local villagers and supplying stationary. In addition, the locally-built Karen schools joined forces with the Burma/Myanmar government schools in order for the students to be able to continue their education after they finish the Karen primary school in their village. To enable this, the Burma/Myanmar government sent their teachers to the area; however, their teachers often leave the village since they dislike staying in the rural areas. As a result, the quality of education available to students has been low... KHRG has received 12 reports covering for-profit development projects such as stone mining, road construction and extension, and rubber and teak plantations. These projects resulted in land confiscation and destruction, livelihood problems, and restrictions on freedom of movement. Other community development projects were conducted by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), who built water pumps, schools, and clinics. These projects brought some improvements in education and healthcare; however, there are ongoing challenges due to a lack of proper needs assessments with villagers and delays in project implementation..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-11-19
Date of entry/update: 2015-12-19
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Local URL:
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Title: Forced recruitment of a child soldier by KNLA in Kyainseikgyi Township, Dooplaya District, October 2015
Description: "This News Bulletin describes the forced recruitment of a child soldier by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) in Kyainseikgyi Township, Dooplaya District. A 43-year-old woman from A--- village, known as Naw A---, reported to a KHRG community member that her youngest son, Saw E---, was recruited by the KNLA in 2013, when he was 16 years old. As her son did not want to be a soldier, she reported the case to the village head and asked the local KNLA base for his release. Nonetheless, there has been no action taken by the KNLA. As a result of her son?s forced recruitment, Naw A--- also faces livelihood difficulties, since she lives with only one of her daughters and she needs her son to be released so he can help them with their livelihood needs.[1]..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-10-23
Date of entry/update: 2015-11-05
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 129.67 KB
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Title: Mergui-Tavoy Situation Update: Ler Muh Lah and Ta Naw Th?Ree townships, January to June 2015
Description: This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Ler Muh Lah and Ta Naw Th?Ree townships, Mergui-Tavoy District, prior to and during the reporting period of January to June 2015. These include militarisation, violent abuse, land confiscation, development projects, and education. This Situation Update also describes villagers? responses to land confiscation... Villager Saw A--- was struck ten times with a stick by Tatmadaw Operations Commander (G3) Tin Soe on March 3rd 2015, as he had hung the Karen national flag in front of his house. Operations Commander Tin Soe forced Saw A--- and other villagers to remove any Karen flags from their houses... In Pa Saw village tract, Ler Mu Lah Township, the Asian World Company has used land confiscated from villagers in 1997 as a palm oil plantation. Following the signing of the preliminary ceasefire the villagers have returned to their land and rebuilt their houses amongst the palm oil trees. The Asian World Company ordered them to relocate, but the villagers refused... In 2014, further land was confiscated from villagers in Ma Saw village tract, Ler Mu Lah Township, by Malaysian company, The Myanmar Stark Prestige Plantation (MSPP). The company has begun clearing vegetation and planting palm oil trees on the land. The villagers submitted a petition to the Karen National Union (KNU) concerning MSPP?s actions and appealing for compensation... KNU and Burma/Myanmar government staff helped the villagers to reclaim 150 acres of land from U Aung Win, who had previously confiscated 1,700 acres of the villagers? land... Burma/Myanmar government schools are allowing Karen language to be taught, but the subject is not scheduled during regular school hours.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-10-22
Date of entry/update: 2015-11-04
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 321.78 KB
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Title: Fighting between Tatmadaw and KNLA soldiers leads to violent abuse and displacement of villagers in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District, October 2015
Description: "This News Bulletin describes three separate incidents of fighting that occurred on September 30th 2015, between Tatmadaw and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) soldiers in Day Wah and Kyaw Pah village tracts, Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District. This includes arbitrary arrest and detention, violent abuse of a villager, restrictions on the freedom of movement, and displacement of villagers... The deputy commander of KNLA Company #4 reported that his soldiers engaged in a fight with Tatmadaw soldiers due to the Tatmadaw soldiers failing to abide by the ceasefire agreement and crossing over their delimited area... Following one of the skirmishes, Tatmadaw soldiers violently abused a 61-year-old male villager, accusing him of providing them with false information regarding the whereabouts of KNLA soldiers. They then arrested him and ordered him to follow them for one day before finally releasing him... Due to the fighting, approximately ten households in Meh K?Naw village, Kyaw Pah village tract temporarily fled to the area surrounding Myaing Gyi Nyu Town in Hpa-an District. At the time KHRG received this information, these villagers had not yet returned to their village... Following the fighting, Tatmadaw and Border Guard Force (BGF) soldiers set up a checkpoint on the vehicle road between Hpapun and Ka Ma Maung towns and stopped all cars in search of Karen National Union (KNU) members.[1]"
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-10-13
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-21
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 149.67 KB
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Title: Hpapun Situation Update: Bu Tho Township, November 2014 to January 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District during the period between November 2014 to January 2015, including illegal logging, punishment, education, and livelihoods... In C--- village, Pa Heh village tract, primary school students who did not pass the examinations were punished by their teacher who made them sit down and stand up 500 to 1,000 times... Karen National Union (KNU) soldiers arrested two people found on a bamboo raft carrying logs which had been cut down on November 3rd 2014... Saw A---, the representative of the Karen Office of Relief and Development (KORD), came to hold a meeting in B--- IDP camp regarding cuts to rations and how internally displaced persons (IDPs) can earn their livelihoods in the future."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-10-21
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-21
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 197.58 KB
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Title: Toungoo Interview: Naw A---January 2015
Description: "This Interview, with Naw A---, describes events and issues occurring in Thandaunggyi Township, Toungoo District, reported to KHRG in January 2015, including land confiscation, education, healthcare, and development projects... Villagers heard that a company is coming to the area to implement a development project for which they will confiscate land in B--- village, as well as in nearby villages. The villagers submitted a complaint letter to the township administrators stating their objection to the project, as they were afraid that their lands for which they do not have land grants will be confiscated... Students are receiving a poor education as school teachers are often absent, as they frequently leave the village to visit their homes, which can take up to two weeks per trip. Further to this, some of them have expressed that they do not want to teach at all... As there is no health clinic in B--- village, villagers must travel to Toungoo Town for medicine or treatment whenever they are sick."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-10-15
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-21
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 165.34 KB
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Title: Hpa-an Short Update: Nabu Township, April to March 2015
Description: "This Short Update describes the general situation in Nabu Township, Hpa-an District during the period between April and March 2015, including updates on health and education, as well as improvements to villagers? freedom of movement... Since the preliminary ceasefire was signed in 2012, the villagers have been freer to work for their own living, rather than being subjected to forced labour. Villagers have also been able to travel more freely, as the number of landmines being planted in the area have also been decreasing... Prior to the preliminary ceasefire, there were only Karen National Union (KNU) funded schools in Nabu Township. Since 2012, the Burma/Myanmar government has opened many of their own schools there, however villagers see this situation as unstable, as the nationwide ceasefire has not been signed yet and it is unclear if students will be able to depend on the Burma/Myanmar government teachers in the long term..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-10-08
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-12
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 133.25 KB
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Title: Thaton Situation Update: Thaton Township, January to February 2015
Description: "This Situation Update provides information on villagers? livelihoods, healthcare, development projects, Burma/Myanmar government military bases, and the activities of wealthy businessmen in Thaton Township, Thaton District, during the period between January and February 2015. Since the signing of the preliminary ceasefire agreement, organisations such as World Concern, the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), and United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children?s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have entered Thaton Township to conduct local development projects. Most of the projects are aimed at building schools, installing toilets, digging wells, distributing school materials, and conducting vocational training... On February 5th 2015, Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #3, led by Battalion Deputy Commander Zay Ya Win, arrived in the area to stay in A--- monastery in order to observe the activities of the local village heads... Burmese private companies have begun construction of a caustic soda factory in B--- village, Noh Ta Hsguh village tract, Thaton Township... The villagers from Hpa-an and Thaton townships gathered together and held a meeting to discuss how to regain their land that was confiscated to make way for the construction of the caustic soda factory..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-10-05
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-12
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 320.2 KB
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Title: Toungoo Photo Set: Militarisation in Thandaunggyi Township, December 2014 to February 2015
Description: "This Photo Set depicts events and issues in Thandaunggyi Township, Toungoo District reported to KHRG between December 2014 and February 2015, including militarisation, land confiscation, as well as military activity by both the Tatmadaw and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). Villagers report being concerned regarding the Tatmadaw?s resupply of rations into remote areas of Thandaunggyi Township during the ceasefire period, as well as the Burma/Myanmar government?s prioritisation of the construction and repair of roads used by the military over other public roads..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-10-08
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-12
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 244.1 KB
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Title: Toungoo Situation Update: Thandaunggyi Township, January to February 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes issues occurring in Thandaunggyi Township, Toungoo District during the period between January and February 2015, including ethnic/religious discrimination, forced labour, education challenges, healthcare disparities, development projects, civilians? situation, administration, and military movements. Sein Than Aung, a police officer in Thandaung Myo Thit Town, is an ethnic Rakhine and discriminates against his subordinates who are ethnic Karen and Muslim... In Thandaunggyi Township, Toungoo District, teachers are reported to not be teaching effectively; they write down the lesson without explanation and then proceed to play games on their mobile phones. As a result, students find it hard to understand what they are supposed to be learning... Rather than providing the community with the proper injection against elephantiasis, the healthcare workers in Thandaunggyi Township gave out pills to community representatives that they tasked with dispensing the pills to their communities. After ingesting the pills, many people suffered severe side-effects from the medication, including dizziness and vomiting, but there was no response to villagers? complaints from the health workers... A private company affiliated with the Burma/Myanmar government that was tasked with erecting electrical infrastructure from Thandaung Myo Thit Town to Baw Ga Lee village in Toungoo District, used villagers? forced and unpaid labour to dig the holes for the electrical pylons..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-10-07
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-12
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 190.77 KB
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Title: Hpapun Incident Report: Villager killed by Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1013 in Bu Tho Township, March 2015
Description: "This Incident Report describes the shooting and subsequent death of Saw A---, a villager from B--- village, Htee Tha Daw Hta village tract, Bu Tho Township. Saw A--- was shot on March 15th 2015 between 7 and 8 pm. The perpetrator was Private Saw Kyaw Ka of Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1013 Company #3, led by Company Second-in-Command Hpah Yuh Khay. The villager was on his way to go spear fishing when he came across the BGF and was shot by accident, as it was already dark outside. When the injured villager protested the BGF shooting of villagers, he was shot twice more. The BGF left Saw A--- at the place where he was shot and he was only sent to Hpa-an Hospital when his fellow villagers came for him later that night. He was under treatment for two days before passing away in the hospital on March 17th 2015. He was buried in the graveyard of Hkaw Taw Town. As a result of Saw A---?s death, his family has been facing livelihood issues so his wife met with Battalion #1013 Commander Maung Hla Kyaing to demand that he compensate her by providing her with financial support for one month. Although the commander agreed, no compensation has been paid out yet..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-09-08
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-20
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 505.41 KB
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Title: Hpapun Situation Update: Bu Tho and Dwe Lo townships, April 2014 to February 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Bu Tho and Dwe Lo townships, Hpapun District between April 2014 and February 2015, including the embezzlement of public funds, child labour, and fraudulent gambling. Hpapun District administrator U Aung Than Zaw oversaw the construction of bridges in Bu Tho Township, paid for with government funds. He spent only 14,400,000 kyat (US $12,933.36) of the allotted 30,000,000 kyat (US $26,944.50) on actual bridge construction. The remaining 15,600,000 kyat (US $14,011.14) he used to fund his own business. Two cases of child labour occurred in Hpapun District: one in S--- village, Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township; and one in G--- village, Meh Klaw village tract, Bu Tho Township. The two underage workers were employed in construction work and the abuse occurred due to a lack of awareness regarding child labour rights. On September 27th 2014, casino owner U Myint was arrested and taken into custody by Hpapun Township police for cheating people out of their money at the casino..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-09-11
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-20
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 601.32 KB
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Title: Nyaunglebin Situation Update: Shwegyin Township, October 2014 to January 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Shwegyin Township, Nyaunglebin District between October 2014 and January 2015, including gold mining, environmental damage, logging, militarisation, arbitrary taxation, and restrictions on villagers? freedom of movement. It also describes the changing human rights situation during the ceasefire period. According to the report, the overall human rights situation is improving in Shwegyin Township compared to before the signing of the Jaunary 2012 preliminary ceasefire agreement between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burma/Myanmar government. However, villagers report still being concerned regarding ongoing human rights abuses, Tatmadaw presence in the area, and the stability of the current preliminary ceasefire..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-09-08
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-20
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 202.72 KB
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Title: Fighting between Tatmadaw and DKBA soldiers along the Asian Highway displaces villagers in Dooplaya District, July 2015
Description: "This News Bulletin describes the displacement of villagers in Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District as a result of fighting that took place during July 2015 between Tatmadaw and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) soldiers over control of a recently completed section of the Asian Highway. This information was provided by monk U T---, in whose monastery many of the displaced villagers sought refuge. This News Bulletin also lists several specific incidents of fighting and the implications of these incidents on the surrounding villages. As a result of the fighting, more than 1,000 villagers from more than five different villages in Kawkareik Township temporarily fled their homes and sought shelter at monasteries in Kawkareik Town. The schools in these villages were forced to close temporarily out of fears over the safety of the students, who were consequently unable to attend their lessons. The displaced villagers struggled to maintain their farms and plantations, as well as to look after their livestock during the fighting. The villagers slept at the monasteries throughout the night, as they were afraid that they would be ordered to porter for the Tatmadaw soldiers if they had stayed in their villages. On July 6th 2015, two villagers who were travelling on a path near to where Tatmadaw soldiers had taken up position for fighting were shot dead in Hlaingbwe Township, Hpa-an District, see more at ?Recent fighting between Tatmadaw and DKBA soldiers leads to killing and displacement of villagers in Hpa-an District, July 2015,” KHRG, August 2015. On July 7th 2015, a primary school building in Kawkareik Town was hit and damaged by a grenade reported to have been fired by two DKBA soldiers. However, no students or teachers were harmed as the incident took place at 7 am before the school had opened for the day.[1]..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-09-03
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-19
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Size: 196 KB
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Title: Forced relocation and destruction of villagers? shelters by Burma/Myanmar government officials and police in Hpa-an Township, Thaton District, June 2015
Description: "This News Bulletin describes an incident in which the Burma/Myanmar government police force and Burma/Myanmar Department of Forest Management destroyed and burnt down 97 villager houses, displacing approximately 500 villagers in B--- village, Hpa-an Township, Thaton District in June 2015. Despite holding Karen National Union (KNU) issued land grants, villagers were ordered by the Burma/Myanmar government to move out of their village since the government demarcated the area as a forest reserve. However, villagers reported that this land was the location of their old village, which they had to leave behind in 1983 during altercations between the Tatmadaw and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). The villagers also noted that even though the government demarcated the land as a forest reserve, there are no big teak or ironwood trees there. In addition, businessmen from Hpa-an Town came and planted rubber trees and the Tatmadaw sometimes use the area for target practice. The Chief Minister of Kayin State, U Zaw Min, threatened villagers into signing a document stating they agree to dismantle their houses and would not live on that land anymore. In attempting to prevent the destruction of their village, villagers sought help from Saw P---, who attempted to advocate on their behalf, to no avail. When the villagers refused to dismantle their village, the Burma/Myanmar government police arrested 25 villagers, one monk and one KNU/KNLA-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) member and continued to raid the village, burning and looting villagers? houses, and planting teak trees. In the aftermath of the raid, approximately 100 villagers fled to Myawaddy with the help of Saw P---, since they do not dare to live in the village any longer. A KHRG researcher also interviewed one of the fleeing villagers and a full interview can be found here.[1] For an in-depth analysis of recent trends in land confiscation in southeast Burma/Myanmar see KHRG?s latest thematic report, ??With only our voices, what can we do??: Land confiscation and local response in southeast Myanmar..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-19
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: Hpa-an Incident Report: Explicit and violent threats in Myaing Gyi Ngu Town, Hlaingbwe Township, April 2015
Description: "This Incident Report describes a violent threat made on April 25th 2015 by senior monk U Nyan Ni Ka to the siblings of Maung A---, who was killed by Border Guard Force (BGF) soldiers from Battalion #1011 on April 24th 2015. Monk U Nyan Ni Ka threatened the siblings when they came to request compensation for Maung A---?s death. Monk U Nyan Ni Ka said he would cut them all with his knife. As a result of this threat, Maung A---?s siblings were frightened and had to return to their village without receiving the full amount of money that they had expected to receive. For more information on the killing of Maung A---, see: ?Hpa-an Incident Report: Violent abuse and killing committed by BGF soldiers in Myaing Gyi Ngu Town, April 2015,” KHRG, August 2015..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-28
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-19
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: Dooplaya Photo Set: Road construction in Kyainseikgyi and Win Yay townships, November 2014 to January 2015
Description: "This Photo Set depicts road construction, including the Asian Highway, in Kyainseikgyi and Win Yay townships, Dooplaya District between November 2014 and January 2015. Villager testimony describes land confiscation and the destruction of houses, shops, and plantations in order to make way for the roads. Villagers also report a lack of compensation for the land and crops destroyed as a result of the road construction...."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-17
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-17
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Karen and Burmese
Format : pdf pdf pdf
Size: 182.52 KB 192.73 KB 204.53 KB
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Title: Hpa-an Incident Report: Land confiscation in Paingkyon Township, May 2015
Description: "This Incident Report describes the confiscation of villagers? land committed by Border Guard Force (BGF) Cantonment Area Commander Kya Aye, who oversees Battalion #1015 and Battalion #1016, and Cantonment Area Supervisor U Kyaw Hein on May 1st 2015. They then resold the land to the Steel Stone Group to be used for road construction and infrastructure development. The villagers reported the incident to the Karen National Union (KNU) requesting compensation for their land and calling for restrictions on the BGF commanders? power. KHRG also received a complaint letter submitted to the KNU Agriculture Department by a community representative of 14 villagers whose lands have been confiscated, including those listed in this incident report, requesting the KNU aid them in reclaiming their land: see, ?Complaint letter to KNU Agriculture Department in Paingkyon Township regarding land confiscation,” KHRG, July 2015..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-17
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-17
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Karen and Burmese
Format : pdf pdf pdf
Size: 455.9 KB 285.31 KB 195.33 KB
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Title: Thaton Interview: Ma A---, July 2015
Description: This Interview with Ma A--- describes events occurring in B--- village, Hpa-an Township, Thaton District in June 2015, including land confiscation, forced relocation, attack on a village and villagers, threatening, looting, arbitrary detention and threats to children?s right to education. "The villagers who lived in B--- village, whose ancestors lived there, and who had obtained the land titles to that land from the Karen National Union (KNU), had their village burned and looted by Burma/Myanmar police and officials from the Burma/Myanmar Department of Forest Management between June 22nd and 25th 2015, under the claim that it had been designated a forest reserve... Prior to the raid, on February 1st 2015, U Zaw Min, the chief minister of Kayin State, forced 15 villagers from B--- village to sign a document in which they agreed to demolish their houses and move elsewhere within seven days. This deadline was later revised to June 21st 2015 when the police came to B--- village... Ma A--- reported that on June 2nd 2015, around 50 police officers came into B--- village and arrested 25 villagers, including the interviewee?s husband and father, in addition to her younger brother, who had already been in jail for two months at that point. None of these villagers have been released at the time of writing. Other villagers have fled to the forest, monastery or their relatives? houses to avoid being arrested... While the police were demolishing the villagers? houses, they also looted the village, taking villagers? valuables and the goods Ma A--- sold in her shop... Following the destruction of the village, approximately 100 villagers, including Ma A---, fled to Myawaddy with the help of Saw P---... There are six school-age children in the group that fled to Myawaddy. Their newly built school in B--- village was also destroyed..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-17
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: Dooplaya Situation Update: Kyainseikgyi, Kawkareik and Kyonedoe townships, January to February 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Kyainseikgyi, Kawkareik and Kyonedoe townships, Dooplaya District during the period between January and February 2015, including fighting between armed groups and updates on education and healthcare... On February 27th 2015, fighting broke out between the Tatmadaw and the Border Guard Force (BGF) against General San Aung?s group from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA). It resulted in the deaths of four soldiers, including one soldier from the Tatmadaw, two from the BGF, and one from the DKBA... Villages in Kyainseikgyi Township report needing Karen language textbooks in order to teach their students properly... Local shopkeepers are owed money by road constructors from the Burma/Myanmar government who borrowed money from them during the construction process and have not repaid their debt..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-14
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-16
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 289.76 KB
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Title: Explicit threats and the indiscriminate firing of mortars and small arms by BGF soldiers in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District, June 2015
Description: "This News Bulletin describes events occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District in June 2015, including explicit threats and the indiscriminate firing of small arms and mortars by Border Guard Force (BGF) soldiers. The first incident took place on June 13th 2015, when the soldiers of Htoo Lwe Baw Company from BGF Battalion #1015 shelled mortars and fired small arms into P--- place, in G--- village, injuring villagers? livestock and damaging their rubber plantations. The second incident was perpetrated by Second Lieutenant Tha Beh from BGF Battalion #1014, who on June 17th 2015 threatened to kill one or two villagers for allegedly supporting the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). The villagers fear the BGF soldiers because they have previously committed numerous abuses toward the villagers in the area and continue to threaten their lives and livelihoods both physically and verbally.[1]..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-06
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-16
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 253.88 KB
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Title: Hpapun Interview: Saw A---, January 2015
Description: "This Interview with Saw A--- describes events and issues occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District, during January 2015, including improvements in education, villager opinions about the ceasefire, and land confiscation.... The Karen Education Department (KED) said they will raise each teachers? salaries from 4,500 baht (US $133.48) to 7,500 baht (US $222.47) per year starting in 2014 in B--- village... Saw A--- expressed his opinion on the ceasefire agreement between the Burma/Myanmar government and the Karen National Union (KNU), saying that he does not have faith in the current ceasefire... Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #340 confiscated villagers? land in Hpapun area and put up a sign declaring it to be the battalion?s land. The villagers remain the legal landlords but the LIB is exercising de-facto control. The interviewee?s brother had submitted a complaint about this to the KNU Land Department several times in 2014 and, although he was told the land will be returned, there has been no observed progress towards land reclamation or compensation..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-11
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-16
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 307.84 KB
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Title: Toungoo Interview: Naw A---, January 2015
Description: "This Interview with Naw A--- describes events and issues occurring in Thandaunggyi Township, Toungoo District, during January 2015, including land confiscation, development projects, healthcare and education... Villagers are concerned about land confiscation for an industrial zone planned nearby Toungoo Town and have sent complaint letters to the Burma/Myanmar government requesting that they terminate the company?s development projects... Naw A--- mentioned that students have failed examinations due to old teachers being replaced with new, younger teachers. The children do not fully understand school lessons due to the low standard of teaching by the new teachers... Naw A--- stated that there is a group from a neighbouring village that provides medical care and medicines to the villagers..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-17
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-16
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 266.95 KB
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Title: Hpa-an Situation Update: Hlaingbwe Township, April to May 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Hlaingbwe Township, Hpa-an District during the period between April and May 2015, including a development project in which the Burma/Myanmar government built a new town on villagers? lands, as well as healthcare and education updates... Between 1981 and 1982, some of the A--- villagers fled to the refugee camps on the Thai-Burma/Myanmar border and left their lands behind. Between 2013 and 2015 the Burma/Myanmar government built a new town on these villagers? lands and called it A--- Town... The Burma/Myanmar government constructed buildings, a road, and army camps on the villager?s lands, limiting the amount of land villagers living there can use to earn a living. Futhermore, A--- village refugees will have no land to build their homes on if they return... Due to a lack of employment opportunities in Burma/Myanmar, many young people from Hlaingbwe Township migrate to Thailand in order to find work..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-07-30
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-15
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 188.98 KB
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Title: Press release on ?With only our voice, what can we do?” Land confiscation and local response in southeast Myanmar
Description: "The Foreign Correspondents? Club of Thailand, Bangkok - Three years after the 2012 preliminary ceasefire negotiations between the Myanmar government and the Karen National Union (KNU), reported instances of land confiscation continue to increase in southeast Myanmar. In its 2015 report, ?With only our voices, what can we do??, KHRG highlights four main land use types which lead to land confiscation: infrastructure projects, natural resource extraction, commercial agriculture projects, and military activities. Based on testimony from local villagers, the Myanmar government; domestic corporate actors; and Tatmadaw and Karen ethnic armed groups (EAGs) are all identified as being complicit in the confiscation of land from local communities in southeast Myanmar. Against this bleak background, local villagers report using a variety of strategies to prevent and mitigate the impacts of land confiscation, such as reaching out to civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media, negotiating with actors involved in projects, and lobbying both the Myanmar government and Karen EAGs."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-06
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-15
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 38.33 KB
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Title: Recent fighting between Tatmadaw and DKBA soldiers leads to killing and displacement of villagers in Hpa-an District, July 2015
Description: "This News Bulletin describes recent fighting between Tatmadaw and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) soldiers, which has led to killings and displacement of villagers in Hlaingbwe Township, Hpa-an District, in July 2015. On July 6th 2015, Tatmadaw soldiers attacked a DKBA camp near Waw Poo Bridge in Meh Th?Waw village, Hlaingbwe Township. On that day, two villagers were shot and killed by Tatmadaw soldiers whilst travelling on the road where the Tatmadaw soldiers had taken up position for fighting. The relatives of the two villagers tried to retrieve the bodies, but the Tatmadaw soldiers did not allow them to do so at the time. The relatives were permitted to retrieve the bodies several days later.[1]"
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-08-03
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-15
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 340.42 KB
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Title: Toungoo Situation Update: Thandaunggyi and Htantabin townships, November 2014 to February 2015
Description: "This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Thandaunggyi and Htantabin townships, Toungoo District during the period from November 2014 to February 2015, including military activity, civilians? situation, healthcare, education, land confiscation and landmines... In Toungoo District, the Tatmadaw are as active as they were in the past. They send their rations to the camps once every three months. On February 12th 2015, Military Operations Command (MOC) #20 was replaced by MOC #5, bringing approximately 80 military transport vehicles with them... The villagers in Toungoo District usually treat their diseases and illnesses in Karen National Union (KNU) clinics when they are ill. Sometimes, it causes problems for the KNU clinic workers as they do not have enough medicine in their clinic. The villagers do not tend to go to the Burma/Myanmar government clinics as they are expensive... In A--- village, Seik Pu Taw village tract, Htantabin Township, Toungoo District, Kaung Myanmar Aung Group of Companies confiscated villagers? land to set up a teak plantation. A villager named Saw B---, whose land was included in the confiscation, went and complained to the company, after which the company sued him and six of his friends for Criminal Trespass under Article 447 of the Myanmar Penal Code."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-07-31
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-15
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 484.76 KB
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Title: Complaint letter to KNU Agriculture Department in Paingkyon Township regarding land confiscation
Description: "The Complaint Letter below was sent to Saw Naw Dee, head of the Agriculture and Land Directorate, from the Karen National Union (KNU) Agriculture Department, Paingkyon Township. It was written by U B--- who is the representative of the land owners whose lands have been confiscated. The villagers? uncultivated lands were confiscated by Cantonment Area Supervisor U Kyaw Hein from Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1015 who then sold them. In the letter below, the villagers whose lands have been confiscated request that the KNU Agriculture Department in Paingkyon Township take action and help them reclaim ownership of their lands."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-07-30
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-14
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 139.67 KB
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Title: Hpa-an Situation Update: Hlaingbwe and Nabu townships, December 2014 to January 2015
Description: This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Hlaingbwe and Nabu townships, Hpa-an District during the period between December 2014 and January 2015, including embezzlement of government funds, development projects in the infrastructure and education sector, land confiscation, and healthcare disparities... Between 2013 and 2015, Border Guard Force (BGF) commanders embezzled over 170 million kyat (approximately US $152,126) from government funds earmarked for road, bridge, and school construction, resulting in lower quality infrastructure being built... Armed actors in the area, including the BGF, Karen Peace Force (KPF), and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) commanders, have confiscated and leased out villagers? lands to agribusinesses. As a result, these fields have been converted to rubber plantations, leaving villagers unable to graze their cattle... On December 1st 2014, the Nippon Foundation arrived in Hlaingbwe and Nabu townships. They have since delivered rice donations and constructed several schools... Access to healthcare remains an issue in Hlaingbwe and Nabu townships, as some villagers have to depend solely on the Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT), having no clinic or hospital in the area.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-07-23
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-14
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Local URL:
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Title: Rape and violent threats in Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District, April 2014 to May 2015
Description: "This News Bulletin describes a rape case and ongoing threats in B--- village, Kyaw Hkee village tract, Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District, that took place between April 2014 and May 2015. A 17-year-old villager from B--- village, named Naw A---, who at the time was 16 years old, reported that she was raped and subsequently fell pregnant by 26-year-old Saw Hpah Kyaw Eh who is already the father of two children. According to Naw A---, Saw Hpah Kyaw Eh raped her at her house when her adoptive mother and brother were out. After finding out she was pregnant, Naw A--- reported the rape to the village leaders, who dismissed the case as they believe Naw A--- to be feeble-minded. Saw Hpah Kyaw Eh did not take responsibility for the rape and he has kept denying that it was him. Saw Hpah Kyaw Eh said it was Naw A---?s adopted brother that she calls Saw Z--- who had raped her. This news bulletin also describes the villagers? reactions to Naw A--- and what the victim?s adoptive family did after the case. As of the end of May 2015, the case was re-opened and investigations have begun. The case was re-opened by the Karen Women Organisation (KWO) and the village tract leaders, and has been transferred to the Karen National Police Force (KNPF) for further investigation."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-07-28
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-14
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Karen and Burmese
Format : pdf pdf pdf
Size: 177.08 KB 66.89 KB 85.29 KB
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Title: ?With only our voices, what can we do??: Land confiscation and local response in southeast Myanmar. - Texts, maps and video (English, Karen Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
Description: "Villagers in Karen areas of southeast Myanmar continue to face widespread land confiscation at the hands of a multiplicity of actors. Much of this can be attributed to the rapid expansion of domestic and international commercial interest and investment in southeast Myanmar since the January 2012 preliminary ceasefire between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Myanmar government. KHRG first documented this in a 2013 report entitled ?Losing Ground?, which documented cases of land confiscation between January 2011 and November 2012. This report, ?With only our voices, what can we do??, is a follow up to that analysis and highlights continued issue areas while identifying newly documented trends. The present analysis assesses land confiscation according to a number of different factors, including: land use type; geographic distribution across KHRG?s seven research areas; perpetrators involved; whether or not compensation and/or consultation occurred; and the effects that confiscation had on local villagers. This report also seeks to highlight local responses to land confiscation, emphasising the agency that individuals and communities in southeast Myanmar already possess and the obstacles that they face when attempting to protect their own human rights. By focusing on local perspectives and giving priority to villagers? voices, this report aims to provide local, national, and international actors with a resource that will allow them to base policy and programmatic decisions that will impact communities in southeast Myanmar more closely on the experiences and concerns of the people living there."..... Toungoo (Taw Oo) District... Hpa-an District... Dooplaya District... Hpapun (Mutraw) District... Mergui-Tavoy District... Thaton (Doo Tha Htoo) District... Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District...
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-06-30
Date of entry/update: 2015-07-10
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Karen and Burmese
Format : pdf pdf pdf pdf pdf pdf pdf
Size: 5 MB 5.54 MB 2.81 MB 2.75 MB 2.67 MB 613.66 KB 949.09 KB
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Title: Tatmadaw artillery fire directed at villagers working on hill field farms in Hpapun District, February 2015
Description: "This News Bulletin describes event occurring in Lu Thaw Township, Hpapun District in February 2015. On February 17th 2015, Burma/Myanmar Tatmadaw troops indiscriminately fired artillery shells towards a location where villagers were clearing vegetation for hill field farming in Saw Muh Plaw village tract, Lu Thaw Township. Again, on February 22nd 2015, villagers reported that Tatmadaw troops fired shells toward villagers preparing hill fields for farming in Hkay Hpoo village tract, Lu Thaw Township. Both Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) #543 and #410 are based nearby, however villagers are uncertain which battalion fired the shells. Although no villagers were injured, they report being afraid to continue clearing hill fields for planting season."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-03-02
Date of entry/update: 2015-03-09
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English and Burmese
Format : pdf pdf
Size: 203.05 KB 61.17 KB
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Title: Hpa-an Situation Update: Hlaingbwe, Nabu, Paingkyon and Hti Lon townships, May to July 2014
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Hlaingbwe, Nabu, Paingkyon and Hti Lon townships, Hpa-an District during the period between May and July 2014, including destruction of villagers? farm land due to road construction and drug awareness and eradication efforts carried out by armed groups... Burma/Myanmar government road construction, planned from Hlaingbwe town to Meh T?Waw village, damaged parts of villagers? farm land. No compensation for the loss of land has been provided... From May 21st to May 25th 2014, the Tatmadaw, Karen National Union (KNU), Democratic Karen Benevolence Army (DKBA), Border Guard Force (BGF) and Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army - Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) collaborated to conduct several meetings throughout Hpa-an District to promote drug awareness... On June 23th 2014, the KNU, BGF and Tatmadaw collaborated to destroy more than 200 kratom plants in Hti Lon Township."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2014-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2015-03-04
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 165.34 KB
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Title: Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1013 Sergeant Saw Hpah Ghaw steals villagers? livestock
Description: "This News Bulletin describes events occurring in Dwe Lo Township, Hpapun District in June 2014, particularly the repeated theft of villagers? poultry and livestock by Border Guard Force (BGF) Sergeant Saw Hpah Ghaw, from BGF Battalion #1013. Villagers have raised their concerns to KHRG as they have repeatedly witnessed Sergeant Saw Hpah Ghaw steal villagers? chickens, ducks and goats, despite receiving a salary from the Burma/Myanmar government. Animal husbandry is commonly practiced by villagers in Kayin State and is used to supplement their income. Villagers are reluctant to directly confront BGF Battalion #1013 regarding these incidents."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-01-23
Date of entry/update: 2015-03-03
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 159.25 KB
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Title: Thaton Situation Update: Thaton Township, April 2014
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Thaton Township, Thaton District during April 2014, including updates on gravel mining projects, community education and healthcare... Villagers report a lack of nurses and medics in Thaton Township. Furthermore, Burma/Myanmar government-built clinics have fallen into disrepair due to neglect and a lack of staff... The Max Myanmar company operates a rubber plantation in Shwe Yaung Pya village, Shwe Yaung Pya village tract, Thaton Township, that has negatively affected villagers by confiscating land that villagers use for grazing their livestock and limiting villagers? access to firewood... On April 3rd 2014, villagers reported that Pru Min Tun company, a private domestic company, came to Maw Lay village, Maw Lay village tract in Thaton Township, and coerced the community into granting them mining rights in the area. However, local villagers concerned with the project managed to halt its development."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-01-29
Date of entry/update: 2015-03-03
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 190.71 KB
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Title: Nyaunglebin Situation Update: Shwegyin Township, March to June 2014
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Shwegyin Township, Nyaunglebin District during the period between March and June 2014, including military activities, mining, education, healthcare, and restrictions on freedom of movement... Since the ceasefire, there are still issues in Shwegyin Township area. Civilians are still worried about human rights violations however the ceasefire has allowed for greater freedom of movement. Mining has become an issue with the river being slowly destroyed and polluted... The report shows that children are being hired by Kaw Ghay Htoo to construct a road regardless of their age which includes tasks unsuitable for children. The children, who were seen working on the construction of the road on March 9th 2014, were not informed that they were too young to be carrying out these kinds of jobs and are therefore being taken advantage of by their employers... The increased presence of Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #440 and #350 and Infantry Battalion (IB) #30 in Shwegyin Township has caused villagers to become fearful of carrying out their daily activities, as well as restricting the amount of freedom they feel they have to move around the area."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-01-29
Date of entry/update: 2015-03-02
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 181.05 KB
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Title: Hpapun Situation Update: Bu Tho Township, October 2014
Description: "This Situation Update was written in October 2014 and describes events occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District, including issues of land confiscation... The Burma/Myanmar government Land Registration and Management Department and Land Administrative Department in Hpapun District confiscated villagers? lands and gave it to Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalions (LIBs) #340, #341, #434 and #642, which are under Tatmadaw Southeast Command Headquarters... Tatmadaw Operations Commander (G3) Zaw Myo Tin, who is operating in A--- military camp bought six acres of land from a villager in A--- village. However, when he fenced his land, he incorporated approximately sixty acres, which included other villagers? land... The land owners reported the confiscation of their land to the Karen National Union (KNU), as well as to the Burmese Parliament Representative U Saing Than Naing. With the help of the KNU, some of the villagers were able to continue working on their land."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-02-06
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-27
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 168.37 KB
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Title: Mergui-Tavoy Photo Set: The impact of development in Mergui-Tavoy District, May 2014
Description: "This Photo Set shows natural resource extraction projects occurring in K?Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District in May 2014. Lead and coal mining projects have damaged the surrounding environment, negatively affecting villagers? livelihoods. Villagers in Hkay Ter village can no longer use the local river for their daily needs, as it has become muddy and polluted and at least one village has been displaced due to a coal mining project in Ka Neh Khaw village tract."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-02-04
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-27
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 1.11 MB
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Title: Dooplaya Photo Set: Land confiscation in Kawkareik and Kyainseikgyi townships, December 2013 to September 2014
Description: "This Photo Set depicts land confiscated in Kawkareik and Kyainseikgyi townships, Dooplaya District for infrastructure development and military purposes. These projects include the expansion of existing roads and the construction of new roads, as well as the construction of buildings for use by the Tatmadaw. The photos were taken between December 2013 and September 2014. Villagers did not receive any compensation for their land which was confiscated and destroyed."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-02-12
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-26
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 1.15 MB
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Title: Ongoing militarisation of southeastern Burma/Myanmar, since the January 2012 ceasefire agreement between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burma/Myanmar government
Description: "This News Bulletin describes the ongoing militarisation of southeastern Burma/Myanmar by the Burma/Myanmar Tatmadaw and Border Guard Force (BGF) following the January 2012 ceasefire between the government of Burma/Myanmar and the Karen National Union (KNU). Villagers in mixed control areas throughout this region have raised concerns that the ceasefire will break down and fighting will begin again, after observing the activities of the Burma/Myanmar Tatmadaw army."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-02-17
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-26
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 372.02 KB
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Title: Thaton Situation Update: Bilin, Thaton, Kyaikto and Hpa-an townships, September to November 2014
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bilin, Thaton, Kyaikto and Hpa-an townships, Thaton District during the period between September to November 2014, including armed groups? activities, forced labour, restrictions on the freedom of movement, development activities and access to education... On October 7th 2014, Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1014 Company Commander Tin Win from Htee Soo Kaw Village ordered A---, B---, C--- and D--- villagers to work for one day. Ten villagers had to cut wood, bamboo and weave baskets to repair the BGF army camp in C--- village, Hpa-an Township... In Hpa-an Township, two highways were constructed at the beginning of 2013 and one highway was constructed in 2014. Due to the construction of the road, villagers who lived nearby had their land confiscated and their plants and crops were destroyed. They received no compensation, despite reporting the problem to Hpa-an Township authorities... In the academic year of 2013-2014 more Burmese government teachers were sent to teach in Karen villages. Villagers are concerned as they are not allowed to teach the Karen language in the schools."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-02-10
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-26
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 2.53 MB
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Title: Dooplaya Interview: Maung A---, August 2014
Description: "This Interview with Maung A--- describes events occurring in Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District in October 2010, including the confiscation of his land by the Tatmadaw for the construction of buildings for the Karen Peace Force (KPF). Villagers were not compensated for the land and Maung A--- remains landless and unemployed. He refrained from submitting a formal land claim due to intimidation from the Tatmadaw..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-02-24
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-25
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 2.26 MB
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Title: Thaton Situation Update: Bilin and Hpa-an townships, June to November 2014
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bilin and Hpa-an townships, Thaton District during the period between June to November 2014, including forced recruitment, arbitrary taxation, ongoing militarisation and non-governmental organisation (NGO) activity... On June 4th 2014, the Thaung Kyan Thu Hsa Kyin Yay A Pwe (Tha Ka Hsa Hpa) anti-insurgency group led by Moe Nyo forcibly recruited soldiers in Bilin Township. Villages in four village tracts were required to provide recruits based on the number of households in the village... Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1014, which is based in Hpa-an Township, have three army camps which arbitrarily demand tax from cow and buffalo traders. These BGF camps are Law Poo, Meh Poo and Pah Paw army camps... Since the ceasefire, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Save the Children and Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ) are entering Bilin and Hpa-an townships and implementing local development projects. Most of the projects involve building schools and clinics, providing solar panels, as well as providing access to a water supply."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2015-02-23
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-25
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 2.49 MB
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Title: Toungoo Situation Update: Thandaunggyi Township, July 2014
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Thandaunggyi Township, Toungoo District in July 2014, including livelihood problems due to land confiscation: In 2014, Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #603 confiscated over 200 acres of villagers? land without providing any compensation... The villagers requested permission to collect their crops from LIB #603, however they were denied access to their fields. Instead, LIB #603 allowed local female police officers to collect the crops for themselves... The villagers reported this case to the regional sub-township office, as well as both district and state parliaments, however they had not yet received a reply at the time this report was published..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2014-12-05
Date of entry/update: 2015-01-08
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 132.33 KB
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Title: Toungoo Situation Update: Thandaunggyi Township, April to June 2014
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Thandaunggyi Township, Toungoo District during the period between April and June 2014, including land confiscation and access to education, healthcare and livelihoods: The Burma/Myanmar government provided 1,000 kyat (US $0.97) in A--- village for each student; however the teacher did not pay out the money to the students, saying that she had paid out the money for the cost of transporting school books...There are some mid-wives and medics provided by the Burma/Myanmar government who visit villagers in Maung Nwe Gyi village tract, Kon Taing village tract, Leik Pya Gyi village tract and Leik Pya Ka Lay village tracts area. However, villagers report that they do not vaccinate children in a timely fashion...Villagers report that one woman died during child birth, as the mid-wives appointed by the Burma/Myanmar government are rarely in the village."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2014-12-17
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-30
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 171 KB
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Title: Hpapun Situation Update: Bu Tho Township, January to June 2014
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District during the period between January 2014 to June 2014, including arbitrary taxation, violent abuse, militarisation, forced labour and access to healthcare and education: Villagers report being subjected to arbitrary taxation by armed groups, such as the Tatmadaw and Border Guard Force (BGF), as well as the Karen National Union (KNU), when travelling by boat or car... Officer Tha Beh from BGF Battalion #1014 violently abused a village head, punching and hitting him. Officer Tha Beh?s soldier shot another village head in the hand after Officer Tha Beh learned they had summoned a villager on behalf of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication: 2014-12-03
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-03
[field_licence]
Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 218.35 KB
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