MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION REPORT
TENASSERIM DIVISION
Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department, Karen
National Union
June 2004
Contact [email protected]
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES:
FORCED LABOR
TORTURE
RAPE
LOOTING
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FORCED LABOR
On June 23, 2004,
the People's Militia from Mhyitchinsu, in Palaw Township,
Mergui district led by Maung K'Lu
and five soldiers went to Wathoh Payo
Kwee and asked each house in the village to make 150
strips of bamboo and stipulated that this bamboo strip must be 3 feet long. On June 26, 2004,
the village had to take them to MaungK'Lu's house.
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TORTURE
On May 30, 2004,
the Burmese army from Light Battalion Infantry No. 558, led by Lieutenant Soe Aung, based in Theindaw
village (Tenassarim
Township)
had captured Oo Kyaw Lwin and Oo Kyi Shwe saying that
they had contact with the KNU. These two people were tortured and beaten by
Lieutenant Soe Aung. He then shot Oo Kyi Shwe in the
head. This man was taken to the Tenasserim hospital,
but he was dead when he arrived at the hospital.
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RAPE
The Burma Army No. 101,
Column 1, led by Colonel Maung Lwin Oo, based in Tenasserim
Township
area. On June
26, 2004, Colonel Maung Lwin
Oo, with his troops came to Manoroue village area at
Lay Law K'Tei Hkee (the
area where villagers were hiding) saw Saw Randy's hut
and they shot at it. Saw Randy's wife Naw Aung Thein Me was still in the hut, so she was hit on her hand.
The troops entered the hut and raped Naw Aung Thein Me and killed her immediately. They also cut off her
ear lobes to take her ear rings. They also took some other things from the hut.
It was estimated that the possessions were worth 9,000kyat.
Two groups of the People's Militia from Pawat village mistakenly opened fire at each other in Pawat Plaw Pa Htaw
village, in Tenasserim township,
Mergui district, during night of June 5, 2004.
During their fighting, two villagers were injured by a stray shell. After the
accident one of the militants raped a woman in the village.
The village's headman reported the case to
No. 2 Tactical Command office. After that No.2 Tactical Commanding HQ asked No.
101 Infantry Battalion to investigate the case. The Commander arrived to the
village and asked Oo Kyaw Win, the leader of those militants, about the rape
case but he didn't reveal any thing. No
militant was taken action.
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LOOTING
Burmese troops from No.
558 Infantry Battalion, No.1 Column led by Major Hton
Lay Aung and 50 soldiers based in Taket Sweh Plaw. On June 22, 2004,
they came to Wathoo Hta
village and looted the house of Maung Mwi. They took
two necklaces and 400,000Kyat cash.
On June 25, 2004,
the same troops came to Wathoo Hta
village and looted the shop of Saw Klauk, taking the
things in the shop and their food. These possessions were estimated to be worth
600000kyat. House possessions worth 100,000kyat were taken from the house of
Saw So Pi. Also a boat generator worth 350,000kyat was taken from Saw Noe Pay.
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