MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION REPORT

 

JANUARY 2001

Mergui-Tavoy District

 

 

Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department

Karen National Union

 

Extra Judicial Killing

Rape

Looting

Burning and Destruction

Torture

Forced Labor

 

Note: 1 US$ = 400-500 Kyat at cross border trade rate. Military service salary 3000-100000 Kyat. Civil service salary 1000-15000 Kyat. Daily wages 200-500 Kyat.

 

 

EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLING

 

On January 11, 2001 a column from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 101, led by Major Aung Myint Oo arrived to Taket Lor village in Tenasserim township, Mergui District, Tenasserim Division, Southern Burma, and opened fire on the villagers. Four villagers: Saw Ta Pu (male 45 yr.), Naw Nyunt Lay (Female 28 yr.) Naw De Hse (F 22 yr.) and Naw Lay Myint (F 25 yr.) were wounded.

 

After opening fire on the villagers the troop had captured a villager Naw Theh Satin, 20 yr., daughter of Saw Pe Lo and Naw Pi. They took her to a house and raped her severely and stabbed her to death afterward. The next day, that troop cleared the area and took away the properties, which the villagers have abandoned. The properties the soldiers took away were:

 

1.       Naw Theh Satin's (raped woman) one gold ring, one watch, and all her           house belongings cost at least 50,000 Kyat.

 

2.       Saw Pe Lo's money 21,000 Kyat, 1,000 Thai Baht, and all his house           belongings cost at least 400,000 Kyat.

 

3.       Saw Sa De's one engine (Honda 5.5 HP), one chopper, one coat, one blanket, and all his house belongings cost at least 205,000 Kyat

 

4.       Saw Hsa We's one engine (Honda 5.5 HP), one chopper, one coat, 4 blankets, 2 watches, and all his house belongings cost at least 145,000 kyat.

 

5.       Saw Ta Pu's one chopper, 20 pounds of coffee, one pound of sugar (15 kegs), one blanket, one coat, 15 kilogram of fish paste, one jacket, one flask, and all of his house belongings cost at least 50,000 kyat.

 

On January 22, 2001 a troop from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 402 led by Kyaw Kyaw entered to Wah Shu Ko (Seikphyone) village, in Tavoy Township, Tavoy District and shot dead a villager: Saw Dah Sein, 27 yr. son of Saw Shwe Tin.

 

 

RAPE

 

Lieutenant Thein Myint Zaw form Burma Army's Infantry Battalion 104 raped a traveling villager and took away all her money on January 28, 2001 night.

 

According to villagers from Tavoy Township who arrived to the border, Ma Aye Aye Khaing (daughter of U Chit Tin) who worked in a Thai border town Htong Hpa Hpon was traveled back to her home village in Kyet San Pyin, in Tavoy Township. On January 28 evening she arrived to a Burma Army camp at Thuka border check point, opposite to Thailand's Kanchanaburi province. Lt. Thein Mhint Zaw a company commander in that camp summoned her to his hut and said that he need to check her. Afterward Lt. Thein Myint Zaw forcibly raped her in his hut and let her go the next morning.

 

After raping her, Lt. Thein Myint Zaw took away 10,000 Thai Baht form her. The next day (29.1.2001) Thein Myint Zaw gave her 1,000 Baht for her traveling expenditure and set her free.

 

 

LOOTING

 

On January 5, 2001 a group of Pye Thu Sit (People Militia, back up by Burma Army) led by Ye Win entered to Taket village, in Tenasserim township, Mergui District and confiscated some cattle from Saw Hto Gay. After confiscating the cattle the militia leader demanded 30,000 kyat as compensation from the Saw Hto Gay.

 

On January 8, 2001 a group of soldiers led by 2nd Lieutenant Nyi Nyi Soe from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 402 who operated in Ka Mo Thwey area, in the east of Tavoy Town have stolen some properties of local villagers in Kler Pu (Nyaungdon). The soldiers have stolen various of goods from the shop of Naw Je Bin cost at least 25,000 Kyat including one camera, one cassette tape player, one cat from Saw Hsa Dre, and 360 kgs of betel nut from Saw Ke De cost at least 75,000 Kyat.

 

On January 4.1.2001 a troop from Burma Army's Infantry Battalion 101, Column No.2 led by Column Commander Kyaw Thet Naing entered to Taket village, in Tenasserim Township, Mergui District and shot dead a buffalo of Saw Htun Pe for their meal.

 

On January 10, 2001 an unidentified troop of Burma Army entered to Panamee (Duyinbinshaun), in Palaw township, Mergui district and slaughter 5 buffaloes belong to Saw Aung Kyi.

 

 

BURNING and DESTRUCTION

 

On January 8, 2001 a combined column of IB 101 led by Aung Myint Oo and Kyaw Thet Naing burnt down 7 houses in Wah Thu Hta village, Taket village tract. The troop burnt down:

 

1.       Naw Hpo Lah Pwe's house which cost at least 60,000 Kyat

2.       Saw Po Gay's house which cost at least 80,000 Kyat

3.       Saw Win Kyi's house cost at least 90,000 Kyat.

4.       Saw Nga Taw's house cost at least 70,000 Kyat

5.       Saw Klawt's house cost at least 100,000 Kyat

6.       Saw Ler Mu's house cost at least 120,000 kyat and cut down his betel nut palms more than 100 plants,

7.       Saw Tha Htoo's house cost at least 50,000 Kyat and killed one cattle, and burnt down 70 baskets (1 basket = 46 pounds (21 kegs) of his paddy.

 

On January 18, 2001 a troop of 12 men from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 402, led by Company Commander Kyaw Sein Oo has destroyed a villager's house in Sa Ta Lone village, Tavoy township, Tavoy District. The house owner was Maung Kyaw.

 

 

TORTURE

 

On January 11, 2001 a troop of 30 men from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 544 led by Major Aung Aung arrived to Myo Haung village and captured four villagers. They accused the villagers of sending food for Karen resistance group and beaten them seriously. After beaten them, the troop demanded 4,000 Kyat from them. The victims were Maung Hla Shwe, Aung Naing, Kan Gyaw, and Tin Aung. Myo Haung village was relocated by Burma Army and deserted since 1997.

 

 

FORCED LABOR

 

On January 18, 2001 Battalion Commander Than Sein from Burma Army' Light Infantry Battalion 401 which based in Htu ler (Kyauk Htu) village (in the east of Theyetchaung township, Tavoy District) ordered 15 villagers from Kaw Htee (Thabyuchaung) to served as porter to Maw Taw Hta. It was three days walk journey on foot from Htu Ler to Maw Taw Hta. If the demanded porters do not want to go by foot, they have to transport the military supply by boat, and the villagers themselves have to pay the expense of the transportation.

 

From January 20 to 30, 2001 Burma army forced the villagers in Htu Ler, Kaw Htee, Hta Me Hta, Kanekaw (Pyathachaung), Katawnni and Pawtaw, (in the east of Theyetchaung, Tavoy township, Tavoy district) to transport the military food supplies from Pawtaw to Htu Ler. Htoo Ler and Kaw Htee villages were forced to transport 102 sack of rice, Ta Me Hta 36 sack of rice, Ka Htaw Ni, Kanekaw and Pawtaw 102 sack of rice etc.. The villagers have to pay the cost of boat transportation by themselves.

 

On January 28, 2001 Column Commander Nanda Aung from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 401, which based in Htu Ler village (in the east of Theyetchaung township, Tavoy district) ordered Ta Me Hta and Kanekaw villagers to construct a road between their villages and have to finish it within 5 days. The road should be available for the bullock carts.