MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION REPORT
TENASSERIM DIVISION
April
2001
Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department
Karen National Union
EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLING
FORCED LABOUR
EXTORTION
SITUATION OF IDPs
TORTURE
LOOTING
BURNING AND DESTRUCTION
Note:
1 US$ = 400-500 Kyat at cross border trading post.
Military service salary (from minimum to maximum) is 3000-100000 Kyat. Civil salary 1000-15000 Kyat.
Daily wages 200-500 Kyat.
Basket: The standard unit of measurement of rice. 1 basket = 46 pounds (21
kegs)
EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLING
On April 2, 2001 a troop from Burma army's Infantry Battalion 280 and Light Infantry
Battalion 378 arrived to Klo Po Hkee in Tenasserim River region (Lermulah township)
where the villagers are hiding from Burma army and opened fire to the villagers. Three villagers were wounded. The troop
destroyed and burnt down all the houses and belongings that were abandoned by
the villagers.
On April 4, 2001, at about midnight a military officer Naing Win from Burma army's Light Infantry Battalion 560 summoned Kapyaw village headman Ba Thet to his military camp at Kawbakon.
Naing Win killed Ba Thet
when he has arrived, and no case was learnt from his death. (Palaw township, Mergui district)
On April 6, 2001 a troop of Burma army arrived to a villagers hiding site Maw Saw Ko, in
the west of Tenasserim River region and opened fire to the villagers. Saw Pla,
38 years was killed, and Saw Ba So Gay, 12 years was
captured. The fate of Saw Ba So Gay was not learned
after his arrest. That troop has burnt down five houses and at least 40 sacks
of rice, and all the villagers' belongings they had discovered.
On April 4, 2001 a troop from Burma army's Infantry Battalion 280 and Light Infantry
Battalion 378 has shot and wounded a villager name Sa Pe,
48 years when they were patrolling around a deserted Pecha
(Pyicha) village in Palaw township, Mergui district. Sa Pe was wounded and captured by the troop and later he was
beaten to death by that troop.
On April 10, 2001 a troop from Burma army's Infantry Battalion 285 led by Major Ba Thet arrived to Me Ke Hkee village and shot to death
a villager name Saw Po Pre, 50 years. The troop burnt down his house completely
including 60 baskets of paddy, and all his belonging cost at least 100,000 kyat.
On April 16, 2001, a troop from Burma army's Infantry Battalion 280 led by Khin Maung Aye
arrived to a villagers hiding site Ka Hkee in the
east of Palaw township, Mergui distrct, and shot to death
a villager name Saw Paw Bwe, 40 years and burnt him
with his house.
According to a porter who arrived to the Thai-Burma border, on April 20 Burma army has sent 200 prisoner to Htoo Ler Hkee
in the east of Theyetchaung township, Tavoy district. 12 prisoners were shot dead and at least 18
ran away on the way.
On April 21, 2001 a troop of Burma army has shot dead a villager name Saw Bih, 35 years at They Htu Hkee, in Tenaseerim River region.
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FORCED LABOUR
According to our field reporter, on April 18, 2001, Burma army's Light Infantry Battalion 378 is going to
construct a road from Pawndaw to Kanekaw
village. Five villagers from each village around that road were constrained to
join the work.
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EXTORTION
Since the beginning of 2001 Burma army in Tenasserim township had ordered the civilian in this township to
support their people militia's salary by giving compulsory money to the
authorities concerned. That extortion money cost 500 kyat per household per
month for every village within the township. According to the front line
information villagers from Kay, Taket, Manoeron, Pawat village tracts
have to pay that extortion money without absent. Those who absent were forced
to carry military column's burdens whenever needed or summoned for one-month
period.
The strength of militia (Pyi Thu Sit), which those four village tracts had to support
are-
1. Moe Taung village 23
Pyi Thu Sit led
by Oo Tin Kyaine
2. Nyaungbingwin 40 Oo
Htay Oo
3.A Tagu 56 Oo Kyaw Ngwe
4. Le Thit 50 Oo Ba Kyay Meh
5. Pawat
Hta 30 Oo
Kyaw Way
6. Taung
Nge 50 Oo Win Bo
7. Shwegehnyo 45 Oo
Chit Ko
Total 244
On April 12, 2001 a group of police
from Tenasserim town led by Yaw Shwe arrived to Taket village, in Tenasserim Township, Mergui district and arrested Saw Pei Lu, 59 years. The police demanded 70,000 Kyat for his
release. But Saw Pei Lu could not give such amount
and the police confiscated his .22 gun and 30,000 kyat
of cash and took him to Tenasserim town.
On April 24, 2001 a troop of 30 men led by Battalion Commander Aung Myint Oo from column No.1, (Infantry Battalion 101) has
demanded 5 villagers from Thikoh village in Tenasserim township, Mergui
district to serve as porter. But the village could not give five people. Aung Myit Oo demanded 50,000 Kyat instead.
On April 24, 2001 a military column
led by Kyaw Ngwi from Burma army's Light Infantry Battalion 374 arrived to Wasuko and Htee Blu village. The column commander Kyaw Ngwi
orders all the villagers who settled distance from the car road to resettle by
the car roadside. The troop also has confiscated three cattle from Wasuko village for their meal.
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SITUATION OF IDPs
On April 1, 2001 a Burma army's troop arrived to an internally displaced persons'
hiding site So Ko Law in Teanasserim River region and captured Saw Raw Khin and his son-in-law. The fate of them was
not leant after their captured.
On April 4, 2001 a troop of Burma army arrive to a IDPs hiding
site Htee The Hkee in Tenasserim River region and captured three villagers. They were Pee Naw
Plo and his two children. The fate of them was not
leant after their arrest.
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TORTURE
On April 9, 2001 a troop from Burma army's Infantry Battalion 409 has arrested Saw Ka De, 26
years in Kaw Htee village
in the east of Theyetchaung township
and accused him of being Karen Nation Union backbone and tortured him and asked
for the arm.
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LOOTING
On April 22, 2001 a group of 30 men
from Burma army's Infantry Battalion 101 led by Company Commander Kyaw Thet Naing arrived to the surrounding of Mei Wat village in Tenasserim township, Mergui district and has found two huts and looted all the
belongings. The huts belong to Saw Doh Not and his
belongings cost at least 12000 kyat and Saw Po Ma's at least 10000 kyat.
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BURNING AND DESTRUCTION
On April 24, 2001 a troop of Burma army arrived to Awpu Hkee in the east of Palaw township, Mergui district where
the villagers are hiding from Burma army and burnt down eight houses. Those houses belong to
1. Saw Pa Baw
2. Hton
Aye
3. Saw Dah Kyi
4. Saw Aung Nya
5. Ka Hswe
6. Naw
Hse Mu
7. Saw Pa Keh
8. Nyein
Maung included 130 basket of paddy.
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