MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION REPORT
TENASSERIM DIVISION
November 2001
Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department
Karen
National Union Contact:
EXTRA
JUDICIAL KILLING
BURNING
AND DESTRUCTION
EXTORTION
FORCED
LABOUR
EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLING
On November 16, 2001 a troop of Burma Army's Infantry
Battalion 25, led by Khin Maung shot dead two Taungtholon
Pyithusits (Burma Army backed people militia) in the
east of Tavoy town, Tavoy
district. The military officer accused them of not willing to do their duty.
They were Saw Ser Gay from Ka Lek Ke
village and Saw Po Htwee from Kerwaw
(Kataungni) village.
On November 22, 2001, a troop from Burma Army's Infantry
Battalion 262, led by Battalion Commander Tin Htu
captured a group of cattle traders on their way back from Thailand to their village Ta Ket in Burma at a place called Lay Ka Bla in Tenasserim Township, Mergui
District. That troop looted 50,000 Kyat, two gold necklaces (2 Baht) from Maung Ka Neh, and Than
Chaung. After taken away the money the troop has shot
dead Maung Ka Neh. Another trader Chin Myaing try to escape but the troops shot him and he was hit
and troop recaptured him and sent him to Tenasserim
town hospital but later died on November 25. Than Chaing
was taken and detain in Tenasserim town.
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BURNING
AND DESTRUCTION
On November 12, 2001, a troop from Burma Army's Light
Infantry Battalion 556 led by Battalion Commander Than Htun
arrived to a villagers hiding site called Ge Hkee in the south west of Tenasserim
Riverside and burnt down two houses and captured Saw Ba
Khin and his family. The fate of this family was not learnt after their
captured. Two houses that were burnt down belong to Saw Ba
Khin including 50 baskets of paddy and other household utensils estimate
costing 40,000 kyat, and Saw Hsaw Hpo's
60 baskets of paddy, one pair of gold earring and other household utensils
estimate cost 30,000 kyat.
* Basket: The
standard unit of measurement of rice. 1 basket = 46 pounds (21 kegs)
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EXTORTION
On November 18, 2001, Win Htain
the officer from Burma Army's Infantry Battalion 25, demanded 40,000 kyat from
Ka Let Ke and Ker Waw (Kataungni) villages in the
east of Tavoy town,Tavoy district, to pay the cost of treatment of the
villagers that they have shot and wounded.
On November 24, 2001 a group of Palauk
village Pyithusit (Burma Army backed people militia)
led by their leader Aye Maung and Aye Han demanded 40,000 betel nuts from Keh Ma village (Madaw) village,
and 50,000 betel nuts from Pawkato village in Theyetchaung township, Tavoy district. The demanded betel nuts cost in money more
than 80,000 kyat. The Pyithusit leaders said that
they will buy military uniform, equipment and walkie
talkie radio communication set.
On November 24, 2001, a group of Nyaungbingwin
village Pyithusit came to Taket
village in Tenasserim Township, Mergui
district and asked 10,000 kyat compensation from Saw Nya
Doh, and 10,000 kyat from Saw Nga
Twin. They accused those two villagers that they has
sold cattle to Thailand.
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.)
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FORCED LABOUR
In the last week of November 2001, camp commander Lt. Myat Aung from Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 541
(under control of No. 9 Operation Commanding HQ) ordered Kaw
Htee (Thabyuchanung)
villager in the east of Thayetchang township, Tavoy district to build
a bridge between Kaw Htee
and Htoo Ler (KyaukHtu) village. The bridge must be 80' long, 16' high,
and 5' wide. To build this bridge the Burma Army's soldiers cut down 10 betel
palms belong to Saw Gay Hku from Htoo
Ler village.
On November 22, 2001, Win Hton Oo
from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion ordered villagers from Paungdaw, Kanekaw (Pyathachaung), Hawterhta, Tameihta village (in Tavoy
township, Tavoy district) to transport some of their
military food supplies from Paungdaw to Htoo Ler village by villagers'
engine boat. Lt. General Hla Myint
commander of No.9 Operation Commanding HQ who controls that area, accused those
mentioned villagers that they fail to inform the movement of insurgent groups
around their villages and give them punishment to transport military food
supply. As the time we got the information on 29 November the villagers from
those villages still have to transport the military food supplies.
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