"Dooplaya district is in southern Karen state (see map). The villagers here have suffered human rights abuses by the Burmese military regime for many decades. An informal ceasefire between the current State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) regime and the Karen National Union (KNU) was agreed in early January 2004. Even after the verbal ceasefire, however, occasional armed clashes have still occurred in Dooplaya district. The villagers who live close to the SPDC camps still have to do forced labour as porters, and respond to demands for Loh ah pay (?volunteer” labour, actually short-term forced labour). There are also some demands for money, food, and materials for camp building. Looting, abuse, and killing still occur as well. In addition the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and Karen Peace Force (KPF)[1], two groups allied with the SPDC, also demand forced labour, logs, bamboo, and thatch when they need them..."