(VIII) TORTURE, AND OTHER CRUEL,
INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT
8. 1. Background
In Burma torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment has been widespread. Miliary intelligence, Police and Burma Army continue to torture political prisoners in detention centres or subjected them to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment. Such treatment are routinely practiced in the course of interrogation and forced the detainees to make confession or expose information or to give a lesson to the others and the victims themselves. Amnesty International has concluded that the problem of torture in Burma is pervasive, long term and endemic. Details of torture techniques well-documented by human rights organisations include beatings (with fists, combat boots, or rifle butts) of prisoners severe enough to cause permanent injury, shackling (both in the cells and in work camps), cigarette burns, the application of electric shocks to the genitals, finger tips, toes, ear lobes and else where, suffocation, stabbing, rubbing of salt and chemicals in open wounds, forcing to stand in abnormal position for long hour (e.g. forcing to "ride the motorcycle", standing with arms outstretched and legs bent for prolonged periods; the "helicopter", suspension by the wrists or feet from a ceiling fixture and then being spun around), deprivation of light and sleep, denial of medicine, food, exercise and water for washing, the "iron road (having iron or bamboo rods rolled up and down the shins until the skin is lacerated), solitary confinement in small cells for prolonged periods and psychological torture including threats of death.
Some prisoners had been forced to work as porters for the army, carrying ammunition and other supplies in front line areas. Of those victims, those managed to escape gave consistent accounts of extra-judicial execution, beatings, lack of food and medicines, and poor conditions. Most of these prisoners had only a few days left to serve of their sentences when they were taken to the front. Moreover, some prisoners were forced to work as unpaid labourers for the infrastructure development projects throughout Burma.
Porters who attempted to escape, those who could no longer carry heavy loads, and those who asked for some more food or water were subjected to torture, sometimes to death, and ill treatment, including gang rape mostly to ethnic women serving as porters, by the SLORC army.
Ethnic civilians in the remote areas were also not spared from being tortured when they were unable to provide porters, porter fees or other funds or failed to meet the demands by the SLORC troops. There were numerous cases of torture to the civilians by the SLORC Army under allegation of being supporters of rebels and their sympathisers, harbouring rebels in their villages and establishing the administrative function.
[See also under Personal Accounts, interview 1,3-15, 17-21, 24-26, 28, 30, 37-81, 84, 85, 88-91, 98, 100, 104, 106-111, 113-120, 127-129, 135-153, 155-158, 171, 174, 176, 182, 188, 190-193, 197-198, 200-203, 214-215, 217-218, 225, 231-232, 236, 239, 243-248, 250, 252, 255, 261-262, 264-265, 267‑268, 270-275, 280-281, 284, 286-293, 299-300, 304-306, 309, 312-313]
8.2. List of Incidents
8.2.1. At 4:17 a.m. on 15 March 1994, a Burmese fishing boat carrying 1,000 tones of pawn from Kyein Ni Taung village was robbed by SLORC soldiers from No. 413 navy patrol boat near Ma Pu Taw (Dove), Tenasserim Division. A child, an elderly woman, two girls and 5 fishermen were kept in the scorching sun without giving anything for one day as a punishment. The owner of the fishing boat was fined 50,000 baht. [Source: KNU]
8.2.2. In September 1994, approximately 100 troops from IB 62 led by Col Ohn Myint penetrated Kotkataw and Line villages in Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State, to search for Mon rebels. The SLORC soldiers arrested all men in the villages and tortured them to reveal who were rebels and supporters of rebels in their villages. Nai Phu, Nai Chit Palae, Nai Yu, Nai Hla Sein and Nai Hlein were severely tortured and detained for one week following the accusation of being supporters of Mon rebels. The SLORC troops also took some high-priced belongings such as video recorder and engines of a small rice mill from the villagers. [Source: HURFOM]
8.2.3. In the third week of November 1994, about 60 troops commanded by Capt Aye Min entered Kotkataw, Kawgo and Palaingkamort villages in Kyaikmaraw Township and arrested a number of villagers for portering. While the villagers were attempting to escape, the troops shot at them in Kawgo village, causing one villager, Nai Lon (25) to die on the spot. Some arrested villagers were accused of being supporters of the rebels and hiding arms for them, and the accused were subjected to severe torture as they tried to flee. SLORC troops also threatened the villagers that those who were not in the village would be considered as Mon rebels. [Source: HURFOM]
8.2.4. In last week of December 1994 and first week of January 1995, about 200 troops led by Col Ohn Myint penetrated Line, Palaingkamort, Kyaukapin and Kotkataw villages in Kyaikmaraw Township and arrested about 10 village headmen and many villagers. During the interrogation, the soldiers covered the victims faces fixedly, poured water on their heads and engineered severe torture to force them to expose arsenal of the rebels and ordered the people to relocate the villages quickly. When the village headman replied it was impossible to relocate the villages, they were severely beaten by the troops. Since then, most village headmen and the villagers fled into jungle and hid in a safer place. The administration of the villages became loose so that the villagers were no longer be able to tolerate staying in their villages. [Source: HURFOM]
8.2.5. Most people fled Klaw Hta village, two hours walk west of the Salween River, in Papun District, Karen State, because SLORC troops advanced in January/February 1995. On 10 February, one man from the village returned to get some of his possessions. While he was there, SLORC troops suddenly surrounded and captured him. The soldiers tortured him and forced him to be a porter for three days before set him free. The villagers name was not provided, but the responsible SLORC commander was Coy Comdr Bo Chit Aung of IB 19. [Source: KHRG]
8.2.6. In March 1995, SLORC IB 62 entered those villages very often and ordered the villagers again and again to return to their villages and to relocate their whole community to another place. Because of the refusal of the villagers, on 10 March 1995, about 35 troops led by Col Than Hlaing arrested the village headmen from Kawjamalein and Pinekamar villages in Kyaikmaraw Township and severely tortured them under the allegation of having contacts with Mon rebel soldiers. On 11 March, SLORC troops further arrested the headmen Nai Seik (33) and Nai Chit (39) with the same allegation and tortured them. Other arrested village headmen in this area were chairman Nai Aung Khin (52) and secretary Nai Maung Chit of Kwannaeparae village. Moreover, village headmen from Kotkataw and Kawkyaik villages were also tortured by the same troops with allegation of supporting the Mon rebels. Then, many villagers fled into the jungle east of their villages and some villages were nearly and totally destroyed as no one wanted to nor were able to stay any longer in their villages. [Source: HURFOM]
8.2.7. On 16 March 1995, a company from SLORC IB 62 led by Capt Tin Soe arrested village headmen and villagers from the villages situated along and between the railway and motorway which connect Mudon and Thanbyuzayat. Most of the villagers there are local farmers who earn their household living by cultivating low-land rice and working on rubber plantations. On that day, the troops came into Yaungdaung village and arrested village chairman Nai Nee. Then they proceeded to Hneepadaw village and arrested village chairman Nai Boe Ni and secretary Nai Nu. Those village headmen were taken by the soldiers to their outpost in Klortsot village where the prisoner were severely tortured. The soldiers fixedly covered their faces with plastic bags and poured water on their head and beat them with rifle butts and combat boots. [Source: HURFOM]
8.2.8. On 17 March 1995, the same troops arrested Nai Myint, Doma village chairman; Nai Chein, Klortsot village Secretary; Nai Kwit, leader of Khapourhtaw village militia; Nai Pan Kar, leader of Kwankhabawe village militia; Nai Htuu, leader of Bae Dore village militia and Nai Maung Myint, Kmar-aii village chairman. They were brought to Klortsot Military Outpost and interrogated about the activities of Mon troops and members of the New Mon State Party in Mudon Township. The soldiers also accused those village headmen and militia leaders of constantly supporting the Mon troops by harbouring them in their villages and establishing the administrative function of the New Mon State Party. The soldiers tortured them by using many atrocious means and detained them together with those headmen who were subjected to arrest on 16 March. According to the victims, they were questioned in detail by a team composed of personnel from Military Intelligence Unit and if they were dissatisfied, they ordered the soldiers to torture those arrested village leaders. After constant detention and torture for three to four days, the victims were released. Before their release, the soldiers warned them to cut off their contacts with Mon rebels or if such allegations are found, they will be punished more severely. Moreover, the troops also threatened them with relocating some villages presumed as bases of Mon rebels. No evidence was found that these accusations had any basis in meaning, however. [Source: HURFOM]
8.2.9. At 2:00 a.m. on 23 March 1995, the same troops from IB 62 [see 8.2.8. above] came into Kwankhabawe village in Mudon Township and arrested three villagers Mi Say (43, female), Nai Jek (36, male) and Nai Khapue (35, male) by accusing them of being supporters of Mon troops. As soon as they were arrested, the soldiers forced the victims to confess the allegation made against them. The SLORC troops then fixedly covered the victims faces with plastic bags for many minutes to make sure that they were suffocating and as a result were coercively forced to confess. Afterwards the soldiers continuously poured gallons of water onto the victims' heads and tortured them for one hour. Finally the military torturers tied up these villagers and brought them to Htonemine village. When they arrived there at about 5:00 a.m., the soldiers arrested other two villagers Nai Saung (45, male) and Nai Gone (55, male) under the same accusation. The new victims were subjected to the same torture as the first victims.
The soldiers tied up all of the victims and brought to their outpost in Klortsot village. There the tortured villagers were detained for four days and severely tortured in order to lead them "confess". The victims were also threatened that they must show the bases of the Mon troops and houses which harboured Mon soldiers. Moreover, while detained and tortured, the unscrupulous soldiers were demanded a ransom of 25,000 Ks per person. Therefore, the families of those victims had to sell their farmland, rubber plantation and other belongings to be able to pay the ransoms within a four-day deadline. They were released after their families paid the ransoms. [Source: HURFOM]
In June 1995, in Sittwe (Arkyab) Township of Arakan State, a son of Col Htay Win, Deputy-Commander of Western Command, died at the Sittwe summer resort tower. He and his friends lost consciousness and referred to the State hospital in Sittwe urgently. Col Htay Win arrested many young and tortured the people during interrogation about the case. He was angry when his sons friends regained consciousness and told him that they lost unconsciousness because of using morphine. As Col Htay Win with anger abandoned the body of his son at the hospital, the hospital authorities had to take responsibility for cremation. [Source: ABSDF]
8.2.10. At 4:00 p.m. on 18 March 1995, twelve soldiers of SLORC LIB 359 raided Warn Ma Ka Ho Hkam of Tachilek Township, looking for porters. At the Tachilek-Taunggyi bus station they tried to catch five young men who were eating, but four of them managed to escape. Only one, who was a Thai citizen named Tsai Sarm Noi from Kor Saii, Mae Sai, did not escape. While he was being interrogated, they beat his head with a rifle butt and he had to receive 18 stitches at Mae Sai hospital
8.2.11. From 20 March to 21 May 1995, following the attack of MTA against the SLORC troops in Tachilek, the Burmese army put up a barbed wire fence along the Nam Mae Sai Stream to prevent people from crossing. Out of those who were caught while trying to cross to buy goods, females were sent to the army camp on the hill, and then punished by being tied up flat on the ground and then left baking in the sun for three hours; males were sent to the jail for one night or sent to the front line as porters. Those who were able to pay the sum of 2,000 baht were released. [Source: S.H.A.N]
8.2.12. When MTA attached Tachilek on 20 March 1995, 2 innocent young men and 3 women were arrested by Maj Thein Han and Capt Pe Than of No. 24 Military Intelligence Unit. They were:
1. Sai Yee (29, son of Loong On; his right ear was cut off and both legs stabbed repeatedly with a bayonet.)
2. Sai Moun (23, son of Loong Hsam Noi from Ta-le Quarter of Namkham; his upper lip was cut off.)
3. Nang Han Ni (25, daughter of Oo Te Ni, Yan Shin Quarter, Murng Koo village-tract)
4. 2 other young women from Hong Lerk of Mong Hsat village.
No news of these captives has been heard since their arrest. [Source: S.H.A.N]
8.2.13. On 21 March 1995, a villager, who returned to Ee Thu Kee village in Papun District, Karen State, to save some of his belongings, was captured and beaten by SLORC troops from IB 19 before being released. [Source: KHRG]
8.2.14. On 21 March 1995, SLORC troops from IB 19 reached Thee Klu Hta village, Papun District, Karen State, and caught one villager who was not aware of their coming. He was tied up and severely beaten before being released. [Source: KHRG]
8.2.15. During the second week of April, SLORC troops from IB 62 summoned the village heads of Kwankhabawe and Htonemine villages in Mudon Township and interrogated them about the Mon troops being harboured in their villages. The village heads admitted that although they were aware some officials from New Mon State Party had ever come into their village, they were unable to resist the rebels, who were armed with guns. The military was not satisfied with the answers and severely tortured them by using atrocious means. At the end, the military did not accept any reasonable complaint of the village headmen and the SLORC troops warned them for the second time that the village must be relocated if it continued to harbour Mon rebels. The military also issued an order to the village heads saying that if Mon troops or Mon officials come to their villages, they must kill those rebels or if not, their villages must be relocated. [Source: HURFOM]
8.2.16. At midnight on 17 April 1995, about 30 SLORC troops led by Maj Lha Kyoo of LIB 248 from Mong Nai arrived at Nar Lin village and accused the villagers of stealing two of their guns. The soldiers then arrested all the men and women and beat them up during interrogation. [Source: S.H.A.N]
8.2.17. On 5 May 1995, DKBA troops entered Bwa Der village, south of Papun, towards the confluence of the Salween and Moei Rivers, captured Wee Saw Aye, Saw Nu, Ser Nay Htoo, Thaw Htoo, Kya Hay and Pa La Kyay [all Karen men] and beat them severely. They burned a plastic bag and dripped the burning plastic on Thaw Htoos chest. [Source: KHRG]
8.2.18. On 25 May 1995, SLORC troops from Panglong-based LIB 513 raided Worn Na-Law village, Kho Oot village-tract, Namsang Township, southern Shan State, and captured the headman Loong Karng Thoon and a villager, Parn Ta Ke. They were accused of being supporters of MTA and were beaten until they lost consciousness. [Source: SHRF]
8.2.19. On 29 June 1995, Maj Soe Hliang from Langkho-based SLORC IB 99 came to Nam Tong village, Nar Won village-tract, Mong Pan Township, southern Shan State. He beat the headman Zig Ta (58) 5 times. SLORC officer also beat Loong Pan and confiscated property including one horse, three beds, blankets, food and household utensils. [Source: S.H.A.N]
8.2.20. On 9 July 1995, U Myint Naung (55), a convict from Mandalay Jail who lived next to No. 1 State High School of Myaukpyin Tavoy Quarter in Mandalay downtown, fell down while carrying a rice sack. Because of heavy load, his backbone was broken and he was beaten by SLORC soldiers from LIB 426. [Source: ABSDF]
8.2.21. On 10 July 1995, Capt Thein Myint, Coy Comdr of SLORC IB 97, went into Thein PLein village, Kawkareik District and ordered a village elder, Daw Ah Yaing, to get him porters. Daw Ah Yaing pleaded that she could not get the required porters as all villagers were away on their respective farms. Capt Thein Myint accused Daw Ah Yaing of being very stubborn. He and Sgt Htoo Bweh beat the victim with sticks, hit her with rifle butt, and kicked her with their boots. Daw Ah Yaing had her nose broken by the soldiers, and then she lost consciousness. The beatings were so severe that her three-month-old pregnancy ended up with a miscarriage.
Another two villagers Maung Ohn Shwe and Maung Khin Aye who tried to plead for Daw Ah Yaing were also beaten almost to death. Moreover, Capt Thein Myint demanded the villagers to pay him five goats, five chickens, and 10,000 Ks in cash for failing to provide porters. The villagers had to collect the money among themselves to meet the demand. [Source: KNU]
8.2.22. On 13 July 1995, Nga Kyan, a Naga village in Somra Township, Sagaing Division, was raided by a SLORC platoon led by 2nd Lt Tun Tun Oo of IB 347. When the troops reached inside the small village, without any reason, they deliberately shot at the houses. Particularly two houses of U Tha Don and U Phon Mae was damaged of the shooting. Afterwards, the SLORC troops ordered the people from he houses to come down and they kicked U Tha Don. A village headman and six other villagers were also beaten up. The soldiers also took a village headman and another villager as hostages back to their military base. They were reportedly tortured by the SLORC soldiers for the whole night. The following day, the villagers were ordered to give one pig and 10,000 Ks in cash as ransom. When the villagers gave what they asked, the soldiers released the victims. [Source: ABSDF]
8.2.23. In the morning on 29 July 1995, four Pa-O shopkeepers who were arrested from Taunggyi and forced into portering by SLORC troops from LIB 249 were severely beaten by the soldiers while they were attempting to escape. They were beaten until they were very near to dying and then were left behind near the outskirts of Wan Yin Town, Hsi-hseng Township of southern Shan State. [Source: NLD-LA]
8.2.24. In July 1995, the following villagers from Thaton District were blindfolded, tortured, and forced to drink large amounts of water by a combined military column of SLORC IB 36 and DKBA.
Table 8. Torture in Thaton District, July 1995
No. Name Age village
1. Kyaw Moo Kaw Htee Kee
2. Saw Kwee Nee Noh Keg
3. Naw Peh Peh
4. Saw Po Kaw
5. Pah Keh
6. Thein Pe
7. Saw Pee Law
8. Saw Lay Day Peh Wuh Hta
9. Maung Lu Pyo
10. Maung Pyah
11. Saw Naw
12. Naw May
13. Naw Mu Lee Htote Po Hta
14. Saw Po Be
15. Saw Po La thin
16. Maung Tha Lone
17. Pu La Ber Meh Naw Ther
18. Saw Maw Keh Kaw Htee Kee
19. Saw Pwe Dah
20. Saw Be Ko
21. Saw Win Sein
22. Maung Cho Noh Keh
23. Naw Ther Myaing
24. Pu Ta Ku Meh Naw Ther Kee
25. Haah Kee
26. Maung Mait
27. Pah Eh Htoo
28. Kyaw Khin
29. Pu My 65 Maw Kee
30. Hsa Der 38
31. Than Nyo 40
32. Htoe Po Tote 37
33. Saw Keh 28
34. Kwee Lah 51 Ee Su Kee
35. Chit Po 30
36. Than Ngwe 35
37. Saw To Kya 32
38. Saw Ohn Shwe 35
39 Chaule Lone 35
40. Saw Ta Ku 25
41. Kwee Che 27
42. Tee Tha Lee 50
43. Tee Pa Doh 50
[Source: KNU]
8.2.25. On 16 August 1995, 20 SLORC soldiers from LIB 408 led by Coy Sgt Aye Hlaing and Sgt Hla Myint entered Zinba village in Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division. As they asked money from the village headman, he had to collect the tributes including porter fees, funds for forced labour and USDA to be transferred to Chairman of Yebyu Township LORC. But, as the head of Zinba village refused to hand over the money, he was beaten by Sgt Aye Hlaing and a tribute of 28,500 Ks was seized. [Source: ABSDF]
8.2.26. On 25 August 1995, about 200 SLORC troops from LIB 520 led by Maj Kyi Lin came from Mong Pan to Ton Kwai village and proceeded to Nong Harn village in Wan Khook village-tract, Mong Pan Township, southern Shan State, where they asked for two bullock carts. Two men the village headman Loong Phong (56, husband of Nai Yane and son of Loong Ku and Pa Nang) and Sai Tame (37, son of Loong Yan Na and Pa Nang) had to drive the carts for them. When they arrived at Hui Pah Leng Stream between Nong Harn and Wan Larn villages, about 3 miles from Nong Harn, they clashed with MTA troops. Sai Tame ran away and escaped. Then the headman was beaten until he passed out. The soldiers dipped his head in the mud near the stream, washed it in water and then beat him again. [Source: S.H.A.N]
8.2.27. On 9 September 1995, SLORC troops from LIB 332 led by Coy Comdr Capt Thein Han accused Sai Ne (37, son of Loong Sai and Pa Aung from the western quarter of Mong Pan Township) of having contacts with rebels and of involved in drug trafficking. The victim was arrested and beaten so badly during interrogation that one of his legs was broken. The victim was released only when his family brought 200,000 Ks as a ransom. His parents had to sell his house and land to obtain the money. The victim was then hospitalised and hard to walk properly again. [Source: S.H.A.N]
8.2.28. At 4:00 p.m. on 9 September 1995, 200 SLORC troops, led by Capt Gyi Myint from LIB 332 stationed at Mong Pan, raided Kant Kan village, Wan Khook village-tract, Mong Pan Township, southern Shan State, and arrested more than 20 men. Some were released, but seven Loong Phe (50, husband of Nai Sai and son of Loong Sai and Pa Yong), Sai Timan (38, husband of Nang War, 27, from Mong Kung), Loong Aung (56, son of Loong Phe and Pa U), Sai Aye (17, son of Loong Phe and Nai Sau), Sai Si Ha (32, from Nong Ler village) Sai Mong (38 son of Loong Lao and Pa Kham) and Loong Woon Na (47, husband of Pa Sar, 46, from Lai Hka) were taken to the military barracks where they were beaten and interrogated about the rebels.
Sai Mong and Loong Woon Na were tortured to death. The others suffered several bruises on their heads, faces and bodies, and blood flow out of their mouths. As of 7 October 1995, they were still under detention. On the second day of their detention, Nai Sau, Sai Ayes mother, was told by the SLORC soldiers to bring 50,000 Ks for their release. But she was not able to find that much money. [Source: S.H.A.N]
8.2.29. On 16 September 1995, about 200 SLORC troops from LIB 520 led by Maj Kyi Lin closed all the doors of town fences [The SLORC had forced the people of Mong Pan to build 3-4 lines of bamboo fences around the town several years ago. Spikes were laid along the fences and people have been forced to mend it every year.], ransacked every house and searched for rebel funds and walkie-talkies. [There are many quarters in Mong Pan Town]. The soldiers found a holster at the house of Sai Sang Or (39, son of Pu Leng and Pa Nyo) from Ho Phai Quarter and arrested him and all his family members. The soldiers later released the aged persons and children, but beat and interrogated Sai Sang Or. The perpetrators also found a toy walkie-talkie at the house of Sai Lu (23, son of Loong Kang Sar and Pa Lao) from Wan Mai Quarter. The victim was also beaten and interrogated. [Source: S.H.A.N]
8.2.30. On 18 October 1995, Sai Kum (31, son of Loong Zing and Nang Leng from Wan Ping, Kengtung) went to buy a horse at Pang Nim village. On his way home, he met some troops from SLORC LIB 246 from Kunhing. The soldiers accused him of stealing an army horse, arrested him and beat him until he bled all over. The soldiers then took 12,000 Ks from him. The victim was released only when he had taken the soldiers to the man from whom he had bought the horse and explained the matter. But the money taken by the soldiers was not returned. [Source: S.H.A.N]
8.2.31. On 18 October 1995, a company from IB 17 led by Sgt-Maj Toe Le arrived at Ko Sei Kwee village in Mergui District and arrested Saw Maung Poe (25, son of Saw Kyi Pai) and took him to Lo Kwen Doh for interrogation. Having suspicion of helping the rebels, the SLORC soldiers tortured him severely. In fact, Saw Maung Poe was an innocent farmer who was not involved in any organisation. [Source: KNU]
8.2.32. On 2 November 1995, Bn Comdr Han Tint and Coy 1 Comdr Thein Tun from SLORC LIB 20 together with DKBA troops captured a villager, Pa Yu Der, from Thaton District, tortured him severely, burned his paddy field and shot and ate two of his pigs. [Source: KHRG]
8.2.33. On 17 November 1995, SLORC troops from Lai Hka-based IB 64 penetrated into Kieng Kham village, Loi La village-tract, Mong Nai Township in southern Shan State, and conducted house-to-house search for walkie-talkies. They beat and forced the villagers to tell them who were parents of MTA soldiers, at which 12 women Pa Wai (67), Pa La (58), Pa Nong (82), Pa Phan (59), Pa Thorn (41), Pa Mone (64), Nang Zarm (25), Nang Yoong (30), Nang Aung (17), Nang Mai (18), Pa Moe (43), and Pa Mart (66) were victims. [Source: S.H.A.N]
8.2.34. On 18 December 1995, Saw Htoo Khae and 4 other men from Law Tai village, Yebyu Township in Tenasserim Division, were arrested by SLORC troops with the accusation of having contact with KNU. Of them, Saw Htoo Khae managed to escape on the same day after being taken to Kyauk Ka Din village, where IB 104 was stationed. But he stepped on a booby trap planted around the camp and received injuries. Although he was given a secret treatment at a hut outside the village, he did not able to cross the river of death three days later.
At 9:00 p.m. on the same day, U Saw Htoo Thar, four other men and ten women were also subjected to arrest by the SLORC troops commanded by Capt Myint Kyaw stationed at Kyauk Ka Din village under accusation of having contact with Dah Lays group from the KNU. (In the area around, Kyauk Ka Din, Law Tai and Kwe Ta Lin village in Yebyu Township, there has been fighting between SLORC troops and Dah Lay-led KNU guerrillas. Since August 1995, Dah Lay and his troops had been attacking the SLORC position at Kyauk Ka Din village where one of the military's sergeant and one prisoner were wounded. Following the routine attacks in the area by KNU, the SLORC troops accused local people in Law Tai village, where all the inhabitants are Karens, of harbouring the KNU guerrillas and committed persecutions against the villagers.)
Then, they were threatened, tied up and tortured. All the villagers were forced to stand in the scorching sun all day long. The women were forced to strip off their clothes before standing in the sun and, standing naked, were interrogated for the entire day without being given any food nor water. Among them were two infants. As they were not given any food, the remaining villagers in the village had to cook and send them food. Three days later, they were untied and detained in the camp again. On 20 December 1995, another seven men were arrested and subjected to torture in the same manner as the former group by order of Maj Htaung Yar Zar who was stationed in the same military camp. On 23 December, U Saw Htoo Thar was interrogated by Capt Myint Kyaw because the SLORC troops knew that two of his sons Saw Maw Lee (30) and Saw Htoo Maw (16) were with the KNU. Saw Htoo Thar was ordered to call his sons back and to ask them to return legal-fold by using the threat of their father's further arrest as well as torching all the houses in the village. On that day, they were released. In fear of continued living in the village, Saw Htoo Thar escaped to Payaw Refugee Camp. [Source: NLD-LA]
8.2.35.On 20 December 1995, SLORC troops from Column 1 of IB 55 (Western Command), led by Lt-Col Khin Maung Win, captured villagers from Paw Yer Lo village in Taungoo District while they were carrying their rice at Chaung Ma Kyi. Saw Tay Kay Nay (male, 18) and Saw Maung Thein Dar (male, 22) were severely tortured and it was unknown whether they survived. [Source: KHRG]
I. Extra-judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions
II. Arbitrary Detention and Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances III. Rights of Child
IV. Forced Labour and Slavery V. Forced Relocation and Internally Displaced Persons
VI. Deprivation of Livelihood VII. Minority Protection
VIII. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, Degrading Treatment or Punishment
IX. Freedom of Belief: Discrimination Against the Right to Practice Religion and Intolerance
X.
Freedom of Opinion and Expression XI.
Freedom of Assembly and Association XII.
Freedom of Movement
XIII.
Abuse of Women XIV.
The Refugees Situation and Forced Repatriation