MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION REPORT

TENASSERIM DIVISION

Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department, Karen National Union

August, 2002

Contact: [email protected]

EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLING

RAPE

EXTORTION

ARBITRARY ARRESTED

BURNING AND DESTRUCTION

LIVING STANDARDS

EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLING

The Burmese troops shot at the internally displaced Karen villagers when they were carrying out a search-and-kill operation. Four villagers died and three were wounded. The villagers were hiding from the Burmese troops in the jungle to the east of Palaw township, Mergui district, Tenasserim division.

On August 28, 2002, the Burmese troops from Light Infantry Battalion 345 led by Battalion Commander Ha Du arrived at Haw Ter Hkee to search the village for hiding villagers. They discovered a group of villagers and open fire on them. Four villagers were shot dead. Three others were wounded but escaped. The victims were; Saw Lu Ka (28 years old, son of Saw Wah), Saw Tawt Ni (17 years old, son of Saw Wah from Ka Ge Hkee village), Saw Be Bay (28 years old, son of Saw Pe from Peh Taw Hkee) and Naw Mu Taw (18 years old, daughter of Saw Poe Deh form Taw Ko Ke Hkee). The wounded victims were; Naw Htee Mu (40 years old, daughter of Saw Sa), Saw Lah Tin (40 years old , son of Saw Kod), and Saw Pah Dih (15 year old, son of Saw Ku La from Peh Htaw Hkee).

On August 13, 2002, the Burmese troops from Light Infantry Battalion 557 led by Captain Win Kyaw entered Sa Kaw Lor village and arrested a 19-year-old villager, Saw Keh (son of Saw Ta Rot and Naw Ma Kyaw). The troops accused him of possessing a gun and took him away. The next day, he was killed by the Burmese troops at Ta Ha, in the outer areas of Sa Kaw Lor village.

Sa Kaw Lor village is to the east of Tenasserim township, Mergui district, Tenasserim division. The Burmese troops forcibly relocated the villagers to the designated site. However, many villagers did not move to the relocation site and tried to hide near their village. They feared that the Burmese troops would persecute them when they were in the relocation camp.

RAPE

A Burmese soldier raped a Karen woman when the troops entered a remote forced relocation site on Tenasserim riverside, Tenasserim division in southern Burma.

On August 22, 2002, the Burmese troops from Light Infantry Battalion 551 (under control of Light Infantry Division 15) entered Buthawplaw, a relocation site. On the same day, one of the soldiers went into a villagers' house in Kyawthuhta (a section in the Buthawplaw relocation site) and raped a 25 year old woman (name omitted). Next morning, the same soldier went to her house and raped her again.

The villagers dared not report the case to the responsible commander for fear of the victim’s getting into trouble and bringing shame to her family. In addition, even when reported, the event like this would not be taken action by the Burmese commanders.

EXTORTION

On August 15, 2002, Battalion Commander Htin Way from Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 404 based in Htoo Ler (Kyauk Htu) village ordered local villagers from Ka Taw Ni to send 3000 pieces of roofing leaves to their military camp. Htoo Ler village is to the east of Theyetchaung township, Tavoy district, Tenasserim division. The villagers in Ka Taw Ni and the surrounding areas have to live under the watchful eyes of the Burmese troops. They also continually have to pay various fees to the army, including forced labour.

On August 25, 2002, Battalion Commander Soe Thein from Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 403 based in In Bya demanded 180 pieces of bamboo from Saw Kay (Taungzin), Htee Pah Doh, Kyaw Pya and Kasid villages. The villagers had to send the bamboos, each of which had to be at least 20 feet long, to the military camp no later than August 20. These villages are in the so called white areas, which are totally under control of the Burmese troops. In Bya, in which the battalion is stationed, is in Theyetchaung township, Tavoy district, Tenasserim division.

On August 12, 2002, Colonel Tin Myint, commander of Burma Army No.12 Divisional Training Center, demanded 300,000 kyats (Burmese currency) compensation from Pasawoak (Wazoneoak) village. The village is in Palaw township, Mergui district, and close to the training center. The soldiers were taking training when one of them died of an explosion. Although the villagers knew nothing about the explosion, they were ordered to pay compensation for that soldier.

The commander threatens to fine the villagers 600,000 kyats and kill the village elders should such incident happen again. He also warns the villagers that anybody who is found in the area of the training centre will be shot without any questions asked.

ARBITRARY ARRESTED

On August 3, 2002, the Burmese troops from Infantry Battalion 280 detained a village headman and a reverend from Ler Pah Doh (Kyaukmaw), accusing them of collaborating with the Karen resistant group. Saw Tu Prut and Rev. Si Bwat, the village headman and the reverend from Pasawoak (Wazoneoak) village, were summoned by Infantry Battalion 280 commander to the military camp. He accused them of collaborating with the Karen resistant group and detained them at the camp. Ler Pah Doh village is in Thayetchaung township, Tavoy district.

On the same day, a village headman and a pastor from Pawsawoak (Wanzoneoak) village were released.

In the mean time, the commander demanded 250 pieces of bamboo and 250 pieces of roofing leaves from the villages in that area. Those villages are Ler Pah Doh, Pasawoak (Wazoneoak), Katawni, Wahgone, and Mawkakler, which were forced relocated by the Burmese troops. The villagers have to live under control of the Burmese troops and are continually facing extortion, forced labour, torture and other forms of abuses by them.

BURNING AND DESTRUCTION

On August 1, 2002, the Burmese troops from Light Infantry Battalion 561 led by 2nd Company Commander Aung Myo Hton arrived at a villager-hiding site and opened fire on the villagers. Fortunately, no one was wounded or killed. The troops also burnt down three houses, which belonged to Pu Nga Toh, Naw Noe Noe, and Mwa Naw. The soldiers were on a search-and-kill operation to find the villagers hiding in the jungle to the east of Tenasserim township, Mergui district, Tenasserim division.

LIVING STANDARDS

Money

Kyat rate

29/8/2002/

100 Thai baht = 2,050 Kyat (Thai-Burmese border, Na E Tong)

100 Thai baht = 2,250 Kyat (Thai-Burmese border, Three Pagodas pass)

100 Thai baht = 2,200 Kyat (Tavoy town)

1 US$ = 850.00 Kyat (www.feer.com Sept. 9, 2002) (Unofficial rate)

1 US$ = 42.385 THB (www.feer.com Sept. 9, 2002)

Price of commodities

Rice

Tavoy town 29/8/2002

Best quality = 350 kyat/pyi

Low quality = 300 kyat/pyi

White sticky rice = 350 kyat/ypi

Black sticky rice = 400 kyat/pyi

(1 pyi = 2 kilogram)

Meat

Pork = 1,200 kyat/viss

Chicken = 1,200 kyat/viss

Goat = 1,500 kyat/viss

Beef = 1,200 kyat/viss

(1 viss = 1.6 kilogram)

Cooking oil

Bean oil = 1,200 kyat/viss

Sesame oil = 2,700 kyat/viss

Coconut oil = 900 kyat/viss

Palm oil = 1,800 kyat/viss

Petrol

Thai petrol = 2,400 kyat/gallon

Burmese petrol = 2,100 kyat/gallon

Thai diesel = 1,400 kyat/gallon

Burmese diesel = 1,100 kyat/gallon

Daily wages for hired labor

Male = 300-500 kyat/day

Female = 200-300 kyat/day