MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION REPORT
TENASSERIM DIVISION
Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department, Karen
National Union
May 2004
Contact [email protected]
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES:
FORCED LABOR
DESTRUCTION
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FORCED LABOR
On May 2, 2004,
the Burmese Army's Light Infantry Battalion No. 431, led by Lt. Col. Thein Htaik Oo summoned 50
villagers from Mandain village, 60 villagers from Le Nya village, in Tenasserim township, Mergui district and
ordered them to carry food to the Thai-Burma border military base. The
villagers didn't want to follow the orders, but the troops insisted that they
go.
On May 18, 2004,
the No.3 Strategic Command led by Colonel Soe Thet based in Tenasserim
Township,
ordered the villagers from Chaung La Mu village to carry food for No.101 Infantry Battalion's
No.1 column that head by Kyaw Min Hlaing.
On May 5, 2004,
Commander of Coastal Region Military Command ordered his troops from the
frontline to conscript the villagers to carry food and to report the population
of the villages to Headquarters. Many villagers were forced to carry food. They
consisted of 30 people from Theindaw, 25 people from Yebu, 40 people from Kawmabyin,
35 people from Tharabwin, 25 people from Tatmoo, 30 People from Tagoo, 20
people from Pawetchaung and 30 people from Kyauklongvi.
On May 20, 2004,
No. 1 Strategic Command led by Colonel Kyaw Aung based in Myitta
village, east of Tavoy demanded seven boats from Myitta village to deliver military ammunition to Htee Hta village.
On May 22, 2004,
No. 2 Tactical Command led by Colonel Kyi Sein based
in Htee Hta, in Tenasserim Riverside asked nine people from Kawsawah village to cut down and refine wood for the
construction of a school. Twenty-two people from Myitta
village and 10 people from Mawta village were forced
to build the primary school in Htee Hta village.
From April to May, 2004,
Commander of Coastal Region Military Command Brigadier General Ohn Myint, ordered Artillery
Division 505 headed by Colonel Khin Maung Ye, based in Mergui
Town, to clear the mountain to set up artillery bases. In this work, Colonel
stipulated that eight villages in Tenasserim Division
were to cut down the trees on the mountain. Each village had to work in a
different place in the border area.
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DESTRUCTION
On May 3, 2004,
the Burmese Army, Light Infantry Battalion 342, led by Major Ye Myint Sein constructed the road
from Pyicha Yebu to Palaw Chaung, in Palaw township, Mergui district. They will continue constructing the road
to Wazonoak village. The construction of the road
destroyed several villagers' plantations. In the village
of Pyicha
Yebu,
Naw Sha Ke's
plantation was destroyed, 14 of her betel nut trees and one of her cashew trees
were destroyed. In Mayocmarn, Saw Bright's
plantation was destroyed and 7 betel nut trees were ruined, 15 of Saw Paw Poe's
betel nut trees were driven over by military troops. Saw Kaw
Kie had 11 betel nut trees, destroyed, Saw Sha Lay Doh had 25 betel nut
trees destroyed, Naw Bue
saw 15 of her betel nut trees wrecked by the SPDC, and Saw Bet had 16 betel nut
trees and one coconut tree destroyed. The villagers had to survive from what
was left on their plantations.
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