MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION REPORT

March 2001

Mergui-Tavoy District

 

Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department

Karen National Union

Contact:

 

 

            Extra Judicial Killing

            Rape

            Forced Portering

 

  Extra Judicial Killing

 

According to a deserted porter, on 19 March, 2001, Burma army's Company No.3 from Infantry Battalion 25 has shot dead two porters at LawAaw, in the east of Tavoy, accused them of tried to escape. The victims were;

1.     U Win Aung, 52 yr. son of U Than Naing and Daw Khin Thin from Thabyechaung, Theyetchaung Township, Tavoy District.

2.     U Mya, 51 yr., son of U Mya Maung and Daw Yin Ywa, from Thabyechaung, Theyetchaung Township, Tavoy District.

 

 

On March 24, 2001 a troop of Burma army arrived to Htee Ler Hkee, a place where villagers are hiding from Burma army in the jungle, in Tenasserim Riverside and opened fire on the villagers. Naw Mu Sei, 17 years, daughter of Saw Beh was killed, and Saw Be Nuh, 20 years, son of Saw Nya was wounded. Two other villagers were missing.

 

On March 24, 2001, a troop of Burma army arrived to Htee Thee Hkee, a place where villagers are hiding from Burma army in the jungle, in Tenasserim Riverside and open fire on the villagers. Naw Ka Beh, 7 years old, daughter of Saw Be Poh was killed, Pa Te Shwe Ta, 29 years, son of Saw Po Kyaw was wounded, two women with their two children were captured and took away. They were Naw Deh and Naw Leh Hka.

 

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  Rape

 

On March 20, 2001, a group of Burmese troop looted and raped a group of villagers who return from Thailand.

 

A group of 20 villagers returned to their village in Thayetchaung township, Tavoy district after they have worked in a Thai village in Tong Pha Phum district, Kanchanaburi province. When they arrived to a Burma army border checkpoint at Thukat, they were checked by the soldiers from Column No.2, Battalion 104 headed by Major Khin Maung Twan. They have to pay 200 Thai Baht each for passing fees. After that the officers told them that the situation is not normal, so he will let his soldiers lead them for their traveling. Seven soldiers lead those villagers and setout from Thukat checkpoint. After about 3 miles the soldiers stopped them and looted some of their belongings including radio, castle player, cloths, money and gold necklaces. After that the soldier took one of the 18 years old woman to a near by forest and gang raped her. After that the soldiers let those villagers go.

 

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  Forced Portering

 

On March 2, 2001 villagers from Pawdaw, Htooler and in the neighborhood villages in the east of Theyetchaung township were forced by Burma Army to carried 170 sacks of rice (1 sack = 50 kgm) from Pawdaw to Kantawni village. There is two days walk form Pawdaw to Kantawni village.

 

Thousands of civilians continued were forced as porter for military food stockpiling

Summary

In Tenasserim Township, southern Tenasserim division, Burma Army has forced thousands of local villagers to transport their food supplies to Thai-Burma border camps   opposite to Thailand's Prachaua Khirichan province.

1. Tagu village tract                                                  319 persons

3. Pawat village tract                                                           148 persons

4. Taket village tract                                                145 persons

6. Villagers living outside Tenasserim town        96 persons

7. Nyaungbingwin village tract                              106 persons.

 

The porters have to carry military food supplies and ammunition to frontline military camps in the east, along Thai-Burma border and Tenasserim Riverside.

 

 

Burma Army still forced thousands of civilians to carry their food supplies for six months stock to their Thai border outpost camps for coming raining season.

 

It was learnt that from the beginning of February and up to now, Burma Army are stock piling food for their camps along the Thai border in Tenasserim division. In Tenasserim Township, southern Tenasserim division, Burma Army has forced thousands of local villagers to transport their food supplies to Thai-Burma border camps   opposite to Thailand's Prachaua Khirichan province reported by our field reporter. To accomplish this plan Burma Army forcibly demanded porters from villages in Tenasserim Township, Mergui District. Villagers were forced to transport military food supplies to two main military camps Mukopot and Ta Lwee Hkee on the border. Burma Army's Infantry Battalion 262 and 288 are responsible for the stock piling.

 

Burma Army had planned to finish their food stockpile in February, but did not finish implementing it. So they resumed in March. Started on March 10, 2001, 361 villagers were forced to transported military food supplies from Nawbwa to Mukopot. On March 12, 513 villagers were forced to transport military food supplies form Thabuleik to Takwehke. The villagers have to walk three days walk on jungle path.

 

According to our field reporter from February and up to this date, at least one thousand villagers from seven village tracks in some parts of Tenasserim Township were forced to serve as porter. The numbers of villagers who were forced to be porters are;

1. Tagu village tract                                                   319 persons

2. Ta Po village tract                                                  297 persons

3. Pawat village tract                                                  148 persons

4. Taket village tract                                                  145 persons

5. Ban Law village tract                                    166 persons

6. Villagers living outside Tenasserim town       96 persons

7. Nyaungbingwin village tract                          106 persons.

 

Totally 1277 persons were forced to carry military food supplies for more than a moth and so far.

 

Burma Army forced at least 10,000 people as porter every month in Tenasserim division. The porters have to carry military food supplies and ammunition to frontline military camps in the east, along Thai-Burma border and Tenasserim Riverside.

 

Without porter, Burma Army cannot survive

Ten Thousand of civilians were forced to be porter, monthly.

Summary

Burmese troops captured 110 villagers from Nyaungbingwin village, and 80 villagers from Shwekyingon village.

Burma Army forced at least 10,000 people as porter every month in Tenasserim division. The porters have to carry military food supplies and ammunition to frontline military camps in the east, along Thai border and Tenasserim Riverside.

 

 

According to a porter who escaped to the Thai-Burma border, a porter died of exhausted while were forced by Burma Army. U Ba Han, a prisoner and other porters were forced to carry military supply from Maw Hta to Min Htine Hta in Tenasserim River region, Tenasserim division on March 8, 2001. U Baht Han, 58 yr. son of U Ba Maung suddenly fall down in breathlessness because of over exhausted. Light Infantry Battalion's Column No.1, under controlled of Operation Commanding HQ No.9 was responsible on the accident.

 

The Burma Army used to use two kinds of forced portering. One is call 'Won Htan' (villagers) and 'Won Hsaung Taat Tha' (prisoner).

 

At the same time, on March 8, 2001 Burma Army's Infantry Battalion 101 headed by Lt. Col. Lat Htoo captured some villagers in Tenasserim Township, Mergui district and forced them to serve as porters. The troops captured 110 villagers from Nyaungbingwin village, and 80 villagers from Shwekyingon village. The villagers were forced to carry military food supplies from Nyaungbingwin to Thai border, Modaung camp. According to our field reporter, the Burma Army had planned to capture 500 porters from that area.

 

Burma Army forced at least 10,000 people as porter every month in Tenasserim division. The porters have to carry military food supplies and ammunition to frontline military camps in the east, along Thai border and Tenasserim Riverside.

 

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