Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department
Karen National Union Contact:
On October 6, 2001 a
column from Burma Army's Infantry Battalion 104 and Light Infantry Battalion 376
cross the border into Thailand, opposite Tong Pang Phun District, Kanchanaburi
province and fire to a group of illegal cattle traders from Burma. The fate of those
traders was not learnt.
On October 10, 2001 a
troop from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 541, led by Aung Myo Oo has
captured a villager outside Myitta forced relocation site in the east of Tavoy
town and executed him. Saw Twe Ber, 36 yrs., son of Saw Beh Ro was arrested by
the troops and the troops has found that he has not taken the permission paper
from relocation site. Every villager under Burma Army control forced relocation
site has to get permission paper from the military authority or SPDC's village headman
whenever to get outside. In addition anyone found outside the relocation site
could be shot by the troop without any question. Saw Twe Ber originally from
Sei Ku village, which was forced relocated by Burma Army to Myitta village in 1997.
On October 10, 2001, a
troop from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 558 led by Major Myo Than
arrived to an internally displaced people hiding site called Bot Hkee in
Tenasserim Riverside and fired to the villagers who were working in their rice
field. A boy (10yr.) Saw Eh Thu (son of Saw Leh Po) was shot to dead. The
villagers who found his body said that he was shot numerous; his whole body was
torn by the bullets. Another man Saw Bleh Yu, 30 yrs., the troops has shot to
broken his two legs and left him died. His wife Naw Twe, the troop took off all
her clothes and let her escaped naked.
On October 15, 2001, a
villager from Wahsuhko (Seikphyone) village in Tavoy Township, Tavoy district
has stepped on a landmine at Kehpyuchaung. The victim name is Saw Kawn Kaw, 18
yr. son of Saw Kyi Win. The landmine was planted by Burma Army's troops Infantry
Battalion 25, head by Lt. Colonel Win Htin which operate in that area.
On October 7, 2001, a
Burma Army's troop has arrived to avillagers hiding site called Pu Ka Lu Hta,
in the east of Theyetchaung Township, Tavoy District, and burnt down four villagers'
houses and other properties. It was list as follow;
1.
Saw Hu's house, with 170 baskets* of paddy,
2500 Kyat cash, and other household utensils estimate costing 10,000 Kyat.
2.
Saw Dah Po's house, with 60 baskets of
paddy, and other household utensils estimate costing 10,000 Kyat.
3.
Saw Lu Tin's house and other household
utensils estimate costing 5,000 kyat.
4.
Saw
On
1.
Saw Si Lu's house with 40 baskets of paddy,
and other household utensils estimate costing 30,000 kyat.
2.
Saw Tu Lu's house with 67 baskets of paddy,
and other household utensils estimate costing 40,000 kyat.
* Basket: The
standard unit of measurement of rice. 1 basket = 46 pounds (21 kegs)
On October 2, 2001, local
Burma Army's officers Yeh Hton Naing, Aung Thein, Khin Myat summoned local
villagers in Kay Ta area, in the east of Tavoy town, Tavoy district and ordered
them that two men from each village must join Pyithusi (people militia). Those
two men have to be support from their own village. 12,000 kyat for one person monthly,
and one village has to support 24,000 kyat* of Pyithusit fees monthly. People
who join Pyithusit have to take along their own food. The officers threaten the
villagers that those who fail to follow the order will faced imprisonment or
even dead. The officers said that this order was from Major So Thet commander of
Coastal Region Military Command.
On October 8, 2001 a
troop from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 341 led by Captain Khin Su has
arrested a villager name Saw Heh Min in his rice field outside Myitta forced
relocation site in the east of Tavoy town, Tavoy district. The troop took him
to Taungtholon and demanded 20,000 ransoms from his relatives for his release.
In the same day this troop has shot dead a cattle of Saw Aye Maung in Lertapu
(Kyauktwin) village.
In October, Burma Army'
Major Lah Hton commander of No.12 Military
Training Center in Naw Taw in Palaw township, Mergui district demanded betel
nuts quota from local villages in the north part of Palaw towsnhip. People who own
betel nut plantation has to pay 60 betel nuts per betel palm. Villages which
forced to pay the quota are; Ta Ney Kaw Hta, Panwepoklo (Mayonemarn), Paycha
(Pyicah), Paycha Maw, Pasawoak (Wa Zone Oak), Nya Taw (Nyadet), Thu Ko Si and
other villages around this area.
Kyat*(Burma Courier: Money
line
US$, Sep 24: 680 kyat; US$, Sep 17: 650 kyat;
Since Jan 01: -36.76%
FEC, Sep 28: 665 kyat; FEC, Sep 21: 643 kyat; Since July
21 -20.30%)
(Military service
salary (from minimum to maximum) is 3000-100000 Kyats. Civil salary 1000-15000
Kyat. Daily wages 200-500 Kyat.)
On October 10, 2001,
Operation Commander Soe Thet summoned village headmen from Thanyawsi
(Kanyinchaung) down to Talayhko (Bayintaung) which included more than 20
villages (Theyetchaung Township, Tavoy district) and asked them to clear up the
car road side 50 yard of both sides. He said that the military will pay the
villagers 20,000 kyat for one mile. The military will pay them or not, there is
no informing at this time.
On October 26, 2001,
Major Hlah Hton commander of Burma Army's No.12 Military Training Center in Naw
Taw (Palaw twosnhip, Mergui district) forced Pasawoak (Wa Zone Oak) villagers
to clear up a road from Naw Taw to Pasawoak village.
On