MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION REPORT

TENASSERIM DIVISION

Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department, Karen National Union

August 2003

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES:

FORCED LABOUR

LOOTING

EXTORTION

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FORCED LABOUR

On 30 August 2003, SPDC's No.20 Light Infantry Division's Commander Brigadier Gen. Hkin Zaw Win forced the villagers from Naw Tet to build two ration stores. Naw Tet is a relocation site situated on the bank of Tenasserim River about 35km in the east of Palauk, a town on Mergui-Tavoy road.

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LOOTING

On 14 August 2003, SPDC's a 10 men troop from LIB 599 which was Led by Aung Zaw Win arrived to Manorone internally displaced peoples' hiding place and looted their properties estimated value 139,500 kyat.

Again in 15 August 2003 the same troop looted another IDPs' belongings, which estimated cost 71,800 kyat. Manoerone is a village miles in the southeast of Mergui in Tenasserim division.

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EXTORTION

On 2 August 2003, at about 4:00pm a troop from SPDC's IB 285, 2^nd Column, Column Commander Min Naing and his 50 men entered into Mataw village and he demanded 10,000 kyat in cash and a pig which value 20,000 kyat. Apart from those he took other eatable goods from the villagers which cost estimated 28,000 kyat. (Palaw township, Mergui district)

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On 1 August 2003, Nyaungbingwin Pyithusit leader demanded the villagers from Nyaungbingwin village to support his Pyithusit by sending 2 Sacks (200 kgms) of rice and those who have shops must support Pyithusit by paying 5000 kyat per month. In the same time the villagers who owned chain saws have to saw one ton of planks and scantlings each to LIB.561 and one ton each to No.1 Strategic Commanding HQ which stationed at Yebyu village. (Tenasserim township)

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On 18 August 2003 No.1 Strategic Commander Soe Thet who set up his frontline HQ at Metwah junction demanded money from traders and vehicles which passed through Metwah junction to pay him 5000 kyat per Motor vehicles and 1000 kyat per Motorcycle. (Tenasserim township)

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On 21 August 2003 Pyicha village PDC chairman demanded 2000 kyat per household. He said the money will use for "Union Solidarity and Development association" (USDA), the government sponsored political wing's training. At this village No.12 Divisional Military Training Centre asked for 20 betel nuts per palm from the military trainees from the villages. Those who do not give have to give the allotted nuts equivalent to cash according to the local price. (Palaw township)

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Information from July

On 27 July 2003, the military demanded an oxen from Pawa Plawhpahtaw village in the south of Mergui to feed the trainees who are attending the Pyithusit (SPDC's people militia) training.

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On 30 July 2003, LIB 561's Officer Nay Myo Aung summoned Saw Myint Thein to his outpost and blamed him that he had traded cattle to Thai-Burma border. He said that it was against the law of the government. To cover the case not to arrive to the court he demanded 10,000 kyat from Saw Mya Thein. (Tenasserim township)

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