Five people arrested on suspicion of being rebels’ parents

Independent Mon News Agency

September 23, 2004 (Southern Burma)

The Burmese Army arrested five villagers in southern Mon State with suspicion rebels’ parents at 11:00 Am yesterday and additionally restricted the villagers’ movement to work in their paddy-farms and orchid plantation.

“Burmese Army Battalion (LIB) No.586, Colonel Ngwe Soe arrested four parents of Mon rebels from Hongsarwatoi Restoration Party (HRP) in our village called Kaw-hlaing, in southern part of Ye Township, Mon State,” said villagers.

The arrested village civilians are Mr. Nai Aung Tin and Mrs. Mi Phae, Mrs Daw Nu, Mrs Daw Mya Sein, and another one man (Mrs. Mi Oud’s husband), according to villagers.

“Although Mrs. Mi Oud’s son, Mr. Nai Ani and Mrs Daw Mya Sein’s son, Mr. Nai Dorkhae retired from the Mon rebel group and fled to Thailand for seeking work, Col. Ngwe Soe still arrested their parents,” a villager Mr. Nai Myaing said.

“Colonel Ngwe Soe also ordered the villagers if one villager who kept the Mon rebel at his/her houses or if the fighting happened in the village; they (the Burmese soldiers) will kill the villagers and arrest the villagers and they will also burn down the whole village. He reminded the villagers during a meeting with villagers yesterday,” other Kaw-hlaing villagers told IMNA.

“The Colonel also accused the villagers of bringing the Mon rebels to fight against them on the August 29, 2004, near Mi-htaw-hlar Kalay village, a village in southernmost area of the Township. If the villager does not bring the rebel, the rebel could not be able to come and fight them. The accusation of the Colonel was groundless,” said the villagers.

In the fighting near Mi-htaw-hlar Kalay village, four Burmese soldiers were killed in the ambush of Mon rebels. The house which the Burmese soldiers took shelter was also burnt down and the house owners and other 13 people including village headman were arrested by the Burmese Army.

“It is always a normal revenge by the Burmese Army to the villagers; if they lose in the fighting they must punish the villagers. The revenges are almost relating to arbitrary arrest of the villagers including suspected rebels’ family members, torture and detain them. The revenge against the innocent civilians are not only violate the international human rights principles, but it also against the National Laws,” said Nai Kasuah Mon, Director of Human Right Foundation of Monland.

“Human rights situation in the southern part of Ye Township in Mon State have been serious. The civilians could not receive any type of international protection, even though some of them have based there for some years,” added Nai Kasauh Mon.

At the moment, the villagers from Kaw-hlaing village and villages nearby are ordered to not go to work at their paddy-farm and orchid plantations according to the villagers.

“Colonel Ngwe Soe also ordered the villagers to take their materials and cattle back at their farms and plantations three days ago,” Nai Myaing continued.

According to HURFOM, more than ten villagers are killed with suspicion of rebel-supporters of Mon rebels and the villagers have been regularly restricted in their movement for various livelihood and survival. Thousands of them also displaced.

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