HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE BY
A
A troop from LIB 376 led by Major Kyaw Shwe has arrived to a
deserted Hsa Mu Taw village in the eastern of
1. Saw Hto Kee Say, 17 years, son
of Saw Hla Shwe, Seiku villager.
2. Saw
Hto
3. Saw
Bo Lu, 40 years, son of Pu Ni Plo, Has Mu Taw villager.
Hsa Mu Taw village is located in the bank of
A troop of
An unidentified troop of
In
1997,
10.4.2000
It means CMC ordered the troops under its command to kill every villagers hiding in the jungle and rebels found out in the jungle.
CMC is a local military command (Division) and has 39 battalions under its command. No. 8, 9, and 13 Operation Commanding HQs (OCHQ) are frontline divisions assigned for operation in Tenasserim divisional areas, have 10 battalion each, and were controlled by CRMC.
On
According to the Committee for
Internally Displaced Karen People (CIDKP), at least 15995 displaced Karen villagers are hiding in the jungle of
Tenasserim Davison after 1997 because of
On
Spotting the family 500 yards from the headquarter as the family was heading to work on their rice field, the troops accused the family of attempting to supply food to the rebels and killed all of them on the spot.
The family was from the
The victims were:
(1) Saw Wah Htoo, 25 years: Son of Saw Sanet
(2) Naw Spider, 20 years: Wife of Saw Wah Htoo with 4 months pregnant.
(3) Saw John, 3 years: son of Saw Wah Htoo.
(4) Saw Joy, 2 years: son of Saw Wah Htoo.
They were shot to death and abandoned on the footpath to their plantation. Though knowing that the family was killed and abandoned on the path, their relatives from the Kataungni village were afraid to retrieve the bodies because of the Burmese soldiers.
Kataungni is a village east of
Tavoy on the bank of
The villagers have to live under strict rules arranged by the military. They are forbidden to leave the relocation site without permission from the troops there (No.1 Tactical Command Headquarter). Those who attempt to leave are shot on sight.
According to one Kataungni villager who escaped the relocation center and arrived at the border on May 21st, at least 70 of his fellow villagers have been killed or have disappeared over a stretch of 4 years while serving as porters. Some of those victims were also from nearby villages including Maw Ma Tru, Kyauk Hton, Thebyuchaung, Maw Ler Kay, and Myintmolekka.
Wife
killed, husband escaped
A group of
Naw Mu Aye and her husband from Pawat Plaw Pataw village, in Tenasserim township were collecting vegetables outside their village on May 4. While they are collecting wild vegetable, a group of 15 armed men, known as Burma Army’s militia (Pyithusit) from Pawat Htee Hta village led by Kyaw Win arrived to them and opened fire to Naw Mu Aye and her husband. Naw Mu Aye, 35 years, daughter of Pu Si Mi and Pe Dah Kwe was hit at her bladder and died on the same day, but her husband was escaped. She was a nursing mother.
Pawat Plaw Pataw village was
relocated by
Pyithusit is a people militia
founded by
A
troop from Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 557 entered to Pawat Htee area
in 5.6.2000. They saw a Pawat Htee Thoo Day villager Maung Pan Aung 20 years,
son of Oo Ohm Nyut and Ma Htah and captured him. The troop killed Maung Pan
Aung on their way back to their camp by the jungle path because he is a
Christian. (
A
troop from Burma Army's Infantry Battalion 262 which was headed by battalion
comdr. Lt. Col. Kyaw Myint arrived to Pawat village in 24.6.2000. They accused
a villager Saw Wa Khu, 21 year as a spy of resistance force and shoot him to
death between Htaw Ma and Mee Laung Gwin villagers. (
On
15.7.2000, a troop of 30 Pyithusit (SPDC's people militia) from Le Thit village
tract which was headed d by Khin Maung Tint entered the compound of Saw Hpo
Nu's house and shot the house where Saw Hpo Nus' wife was in the house. After
entering the house and learn that Saw Hpo Nu was not there, they said to Saw
Hpo Nu wife that her husband is an informer for the rebel and they shot Saw
Nu's son (one year old) to death. (
On 20.7.2000, Burma Army's IB 262 entered to Pawat village
tract Htee Thu Day village and captured a villager named Saw Thwe Swe, 37 year,
son of Saw Hpo Toke and Naw Ka Maying. Accusing Saw Thwe Swe as cooperated with
the resistance force they brought him to a place called Kamalay and shot him to
death.(
Ten
traders killed in 3 days
TENASSERIM
DIVISION,
On August 3, three villagers from
The soldiers arrested three villagers, U Pu Lu, 45 yr.
(male), Ma Chaw Su, 18 yr. (female), and U Aung Than, 40 yr. (male), with their
six cattle and took along with them to Thuka border pass. After that, it was
learnt that all of them were shot dead by that troop. Ma Chaw Su was repeatedly
raped before she was killed. All their cattle were taken by that troop.
From
Burma army’s troop that stationed at Thuka border pass
continuously taxed the traders from Burma, looting of their properties, cattle,
robbing, killing and raped of the travelers. It is a route that the Burmese
people used to trade cattle and travel to work in
TENASSERIM DIVISION,
From August 8, to 18, 2000, Burma army’s LIB 402, 407 under controlled of Tactical Command 2, Operation Commanding HQ No. 8 started their offensive to the eastern of Tavoy where KNLA’s 10 Battalion are active.
During the ten days offensive, that troops has killed more than 15 cattle traders who are traveled on this area. There were 3 female among the victim; they were raped before they were killed. That troops accused those traders of being the back-bone (supporter) of KNU.
Company Commander Captain Aung Kyi from
2 were killed and 5 were raped during
forced to be BA's porters
A column of Burma Army has forced villagers including women in Theindaw and Kawk Ma Pyin villages in the East of Mergui Town, Tenasserim division to serve as porters win a particular military activity against resistance group, and have killed 2 porters and raped 5 female porters.
On November 2, 2000 a column of 100 men from Burma Army's Infantry Battalion 17 led by Major Aung Kyaw Than arrived to Theindaw village in the east of Mergui town. Major Aung Kyaw Than ordered Theindaw village headman U Kyi Shein to arrange 30 porters for his troop. When U Kyi Shein could not find 30 porters as ordered, Aung Kyaw Than ordered his troop to go around the village and capture anyone as porter. That troop has captured 75 men and 15 women in Theindaw village and forced them to carry military supplies for their military activities against Myeik Dawai United Front (MDUF).
That column departed Theindaw village and marched to Kawk Ma
Pyin village. When arrived to Kawk Ma Pyin village they again captured 20
villagers more and forced them to be porters. Then that troop marched to the
east for their military activity. During their operation there were two clashes
with the MDUF. It was learnt that two porters from Kawk Ma Pyin village were
died because of illness, and beaten by the troops and five female porters from
Theindaw village were raped during this military activity.
Mergui-Tavoy District, Burma: On
February 3, 2000 one of a private from Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion 560
deserted taking along with him his sergeant’s MCi assault rifle, in
Tenasserim Township, Tenasserim division, Burma. Thinking that the deserter has
heading fo rKawk-Bawk village the Bn. Comdr. calling along LIB 559’s company
Comdr. Capt. Thet Naing and his 80 men with him and went to Kawk Bawk village
on February 6, 2000.
Arrived to Kawk Bawk village, the angry Bn. Comdr. That Htun
rounded up all the villagers into the church compound. He ordered all the male
villagers to search for his deserted soldier and the weapon he took along with
him without failure. If they fail to find the deserter and the gun he said he
will fell down all the beetle nut and coconut palms including other plants in
the plantations and will forcibly relocated the villagers to other villages.
Kawk Bawk villagers live on rice plantation, beetle nut and
coconut plantations. At this season it is the time they are harvesting the
beetle nut and dry it under the sun. While the male villagers have to search
for the deserter the Lt. Col. ordered the female villagers in the church
compound to collect all the harvested beetle nut and loaded it onto the boats.
He send it all to his battalion HQ for himself.
As the villagers have to stay all days and nights at the
church compound, some children and elderly peoples became sick. Because the
church it too small to hold all the villagers at night time so that most of the
villagers have to sleep under the church or by the side of the church without
protection from cold and heat. The sickness increasing day by day.
On
The same day a woman from the church was called down to the
ground. Her name is Naw Neh Lo. The Comdr. accused her that her husband is one
of the rebel’s backbones. The Comdr. said that if he is a good guy he should be
in the village. And as you are the wife of a rebel’s backbone you are also bad.
The Bn. Comdr. tied her wrists and ankles and interrogated her cruelly. She was
rolled with a bottle on her legs, arms and the whole body repeatedly. She was
ordered to stand, to squat, to lie on her belly, lie on her back and was
torture inhumanly. Nothing left for shame as a woman. She was touched with a
burning charcoal repeatedly all over her body. When the troop entered the
village her husband was going to his rice plantation and dare not to come back
when he learnt the troop arrive and what happening.
On
On
The same day he sent 5 women namely Naw Neh Lo, Naw Koray, Naw Kemae, Naw Theh Hpaw, Naw Tetpwa to Manndain town in close-arrest. Until the information was written (15.2.2000) they were not released yet. Till now (15.2.200) it was learnt that the rest of Kawk Bawk villagers have to stay in church compound under the heat at days and cool at nights.
LIB 560 is a battalion which take
responsible for road construction in the eastern part of
On
14.7.2000, Burma Army LIB 561 arrived to Ta Hpo Hki area and captured a
villager Saw Nya accusing him as he has a firearm. The troop tied him by a
tree, beaten and tortured him and left him by the tree without giving food and
water for one day. (Eastern
On
8.7.2000, IB 372 that operate along Tat Moo, Kawut Hta and Ta Nay Ler Hko
villages have captured a villager Hset Than Shwe and his family. The troop
ordered them to go and get an automatic riffle. When the family fails to get
such that weapon they do not let the family eat anything and confined the
family head Hset Than Shwe in a confinement. On 28.8.2000 SPDC's LIB 560 2nd commander
Maj. Htay Win summoned a captured villager Saw Tee Tu Baw who was in
confinement and demanded 200,000 kyat for his release. (
On 22.8.2000, a column of Burma Army from LIB
560, which was led by 2nd battalion commander Maj. Htay Win, combined with IB
101 and Taung Nge village militia (totally about 200 men) arrived to Manorone
area. They captured a villager called Tee Thu Baw from Hto Hsa Hkee (name of
the place) and they beat and kicked that villager severely. After that they
ordered that villager to show them the place of rebel and later on they dragged
that villager to Taung Nge village. There they again beat him severely and put
him into confinement. (
On
LIB 561 HQ at Theybyu was
shifted to Hsonedaw in
According to the field information some of Khun Sa’s Wa troop will be transferred to that empty area between Thybyu and Maw Taung to set up business.
In Tavoy district there is also
an information that Khun Sa’s troops may be sent by the SPDC to between Aing
Wine and Law Aw in the east of Tavoy. The area situated in the east of
It also said that Khun Sa troops will be allowed to do business in the are where the Karen villagers have deserted since 1997 SPDC offensive.
In the beginning of 2000 Khun
Saws troops were sent to Karen state’s Myawaddy-Kawkareik area opposite Maesot
(Tak province in
Tenasserim township
(14.07.00): Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion 563 ordered the villagers
from Hta Hpo Hkee, Kawei, Pler Hta, in
LIB 563’s authorities ordered all
the villagers who reside around outer parts of their villages to avoid the
It was learnt that the Coastal Military Command has ordered Light Infantry Battalion 563 (under controlled of Tactical Command No.3, Operation Commanding HQ No.5) to setup a military camp in Pway Plaw village after the forced relocation.
Last year on July 27, and 31 Burma Army’s Infantry Battalion 101 led by Lt. Col. Soe Win and company commander Ka Htay has slaughtered more than 29 of villagers in Pway Plaw, Kawei and Hta Hpo Hkee village.
Nine
[Tenasserim Division,
Pawat village tract
Population
|
No |
Name of village |
Household |
Above 12 yrs |
Under 12 yrs |
Total |
New site to go |
||
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
|||||
|
1 |
|
32 |
40 |
90 |
37 |
40 |
270 |
Chaungtha Oo |
|
2 |
Pein Daw |
38 |
62 |
62 |
32 |
50 |
206 |
" |
|
3 |
Wa Tha |
4 |
3 |
8 |
2 |
5 |
18 |
" |
|
4 |
Inn Waing |
16 |
25 |
35 |
15 |
8 |
83 |
Tha Ya Gone |
|
5 |
Hpo Meh |
5 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
22 |
" New site |
|
6 |
Tha Ya Gone |
55 |
120 |
120 |
76 |
31 |
347 |
" |
|
No |
Name of village |
Household |
Above 12 yrs |
Under 12 yrs |
Total |
New site to go |
||
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
|||||
|
1 |
Htonemanaung |
26 |
44 |
40 |
40 |
45 |
169 |
Aye Chan tha Ya |
|
2 |
Pein Neh Daw |
62 |
100 |
90 |
83 |
95 |
368 |
" |
|
3 |
Pein Neh Daw |
37 |
60 |
50 |
37 |
48 |
195 |
" |
The concern villagers started moving from their native villages to the new sites where they were ordered to go in the same day they were ordered, because they know what will be the action Burma Army will take when they did not finish shifting within the day they were allowed. Some local villagers who fear that they will not survive at the new site where they have no work to live on and fear of forced labours, extortions of money and several kinds of restrictions in the relocation sites were secretly ran away instead of going to the relocation sites. There were a lot of newly build roads in those townships it need labourers to finish it, and dry season is a usual period where road constructions use to take place every where in Tenasserim division areas.
Burma Army demark all the places apart from relocation sites as black area (free fire zone) and No.13 OC HQ have delivered order to all of his under-controlled troops at September 13, 2000 to search and clear the villagers who did not obey their order and still staying at their villages and those who fled to the jungle to hide from military control.
Since from the month of July
2000, No.13 OC HQ have ordered several villages to move to the new relocation
sites. Their reason was the spreading villages are the backbone for Karen
National Union (KNU) troops and every time there were armed clashes they used
to blame villagers from those villages and have killed, tortured, captured and
put into confinements without reasonable judgment. Worse than that whenever
they saw people hiding under the jungle in fear they killed all on sight
without letting even the infants. That was why they ordered the villagers from
those spreading villages to relocate to the new sites where they can control on
the new roadside between Mawdaung and
9.3.2000
Talineya
village tract is in
In
January 2000, Light Infantry Battalion 407’s battalion commander
That
commander also demanded 500 beetle-nuts from every household in that tract for
his battalion fund in the same January. Each beetle-nut price is 4-5 kyats locally.
Those who do not have gardens or beetle-nut plantations have to buy from those
who have beetle-nut plantations and send to battalion headquarters. He did the
same as on paddy rice and pay no money for the beetle-nuts.
According
to the field information LIB 407 commander did the same to other nearby village
tracts under his responsible area, demanding paddy rice and beetle-nut without
paying anything.
People
in that area have to pay for military porter fees every month, which cost 1000
kyats per month. Those who unable to pay, have to serve as frontline porter.
Though the authorities said, they will pay 25000 kyats to those who serve as
frontline porter, actually those who have to server as frontline porters got
only 10000 kyats. The paid money was from the fund the SPDC authorities collect
1000 kyat monthly from per family.
As
the dry season arrived, people from these village tracts were forced to work as
plantation clearing workers in LIB 406 and 407’s rubber plantations and
cashew-nut plantations. This year more than those regular works LIB 407 ordered
Talineya tract villagers to clear a new 100 acres for rice plantation. Those
who fail to go must paid 300 kyats for substitution.
In
the middle of February 2000, Yebyu Township SPDC office ordered Kanbauk
administration to implement paved road within Kanbauk village. Kanbauk
administration ordered all the resident within Kanbauk to provide road
construction material (boulders & chippings) 100 cubic feet for every 3
households within the fixed date 29.2.2000 to where they were ordered to send.
Some families have no time to collect and send those materials. Such people
have to pay for 3500 kyats jointly with other 2 similar families to fulfill
their quota. Kanbauk administration has requested TOTAL Company to supply the
road construction with “Tar or bitumen”. Yebyu township administration provided
only order to Kanbauk to implement paved road but no fund no materials for the
construction. It will need labour and machineries if necessary materials were
ready for road construction. Therefore, people in Kanbauk are worrying that
they may have to serve as road construction labour and machineries.
People
in Kanbauk have to pay for security and development fund every month. Every
night at every town quarters 3 persons, have to stand sentry for fire
protection in terms. Those who fail in their term have to pay 300 kyat for
substitution. 150 kyats for development fund must be paid every month for every
family.
Thought they have to serve as sentry in every town quarters
they could not stand against the military patrols from lB 273 who take security
duty for Yadana natural gas pipeline. The troop gave reasons for their task and
entered into the town quarters and stole domestic animals, cloths on drying
lines and household's utensils very often.
On
3.8.2000 SPDC's village militia from Lethit village grouped up themselves, went
to a villager Saw Bee Hpo at the same village and extorted 50,000 kyat. They
told Saw Bee Hpo that they need that money to feed the patrolling government
troop while arriving their village. (
On
Another order for that area was
that the villagers who live in Manorone area (village tract) must transport the
military ration to Chaung Chi outpost Camp on Thai-Burma border. Those who
unable to serve must pay 7000 kyats (about US$ 17.5) for substitution. The
order arrived on
On November 8, 2000, a combined troop of Burma
Army's LIB 101 and village militia (about 100 in number) entered into
Milaungwin village (in Taninthayi township) and opened fire to scare out the
villagers from the place where they were forcibly relocated. After the
villagers fled away they took an ox belong to Saw Win Stine and order the
village head to pay for the price to the owner and left the village.
On Nobember 13, 2000, Burma Army's 563's
commander Lt. Col. Kyaw Kyaw Mya and his 2IC Maj. Htun Htun Oo entered to Mazaw
village in Easter Mergui township, Megui district and forced the villagers to
purchase for them,
1. A set of VDO Karaoke cassette deck
2. A set of Amplifier
3. 5 HP Honda generator engine plus a dynamo
4. A set of satellite disc
5. A jerkin (clothing) and
6. Food stuff which cost 240000 kyats.
The mentioned
materials and cash must be arrange by the village headmen and send to SPDC authorities
in time as soon as can be and inform Lt. Col. Kyaw Kyaw Myint.
In the middle of February 2000, Yebyu Township SPDC office ordered Kanbauk administration to implement paved road within Kanbauk village. Kanbauk administration ordered all the resident within Kanbauk to provide road construction material (boulders & chippings) 100 cubic feet for every 3 households within the fixed date 29.2.2000 to where they were ordered to send. Some families have no time to collect and send those materials. Such people have to pay for 3500 kyats jointly with other 2 similar families to fulfill their quota. kanbauk administration has requested TOTAL Company to supply the road construction with “Tar or bitumen”. Yebyu township administration provided only order to Kanbauk to implement paved road but no fund no materials for the construction. It will need labour and machineries if necessary materials were ready for road construction. Therefore, people in Kanbauk are worrying that they may have to serve as road construction labour and machineries.
People in Kanbauk have to pay for security and development fund every month. Every night at every town quarters 3 persons, have to stand sentry for fire protection in terms. Those who fail in their term have to pay 300 kyat for substitution. 150 kyats for development fund must be paid every month for every family.
Thought they have to serve as sentry in every town quarters they could not stand against the military patrols from lB 273 who take security duty for Yadana natural gas pipeline. The troop gave reasons for their task and entered into the town quarters and stole domestic animals, cloths on drying lines and households' utensils very often.
In
the beginning of May, Burma army’s Tactical Command No. 2 (under command of
Operation Commanding HQ No.9) Commander Colonel Khin Maung Myint has ordered
his controlled battalions to expand 50 feet to both sides of constructed car
road from Myitta village to Bongti, Thai-Burma border. To expand the road,
The
villagers have to fell the trees, clearing the stubs, level the damage road,
dig out the fallen earth, and dig drainage beside the road. The villagers did
not get any things and they have to bring along their own foods and tools.
Those who fail on their term have to hire someone for 7,000 kyat for
substitution.
Bongti-Tavoy
highway project is the project, which will connect Tavoy in
Villagers
who are living in the East of Tavoy were forced to worked on this car road repeatedly
especially after rainy season they have to reconstruct the damage parts. More
than this, they have to serve as porter to the army’s frontline camps regularly
and paid many kinds of extortion money demanded by
In 1997,
Tenasserim
Riverside were destroyed and some were relocated to
area.
Most of analysis said that the offensive purpose is to secure the Yadana gas
pipeline and
Bongti-Tavoy
highway project as well.
On
2.7.2000, SPDC's LIB 561 commander Lt. Col. Min Din ordered villages from
Thagyet, Nyaungbingwin and Thebotleik village tracts for road construction
between Taninthayi town and Naungbwa. Every day 3 persons from each village
must go and work on this road construction in turns. This road was a part of
Mergui (
On
27.7.2000, SPDC's LIBs 557 and 558 had ordered villagers from Thagyet and
Kyeinchaung village tracts to work for military oil palm plantation at
Kyeinchaung area. 70 persons from Thagyet, 50 from Nyaungbingwin, 30 from
Thebotleik, 50 from Kamukru, 30 from Kyauktalone villages were demanded to go
and work in turn. That oil palm plantation was about 55500 acres and it was led
by Ko Aung and Ko Soe Naing as managers. (
On 5.8.2000, Lt. Col. Min Din from LIB 561 ordered his
troop to join with village militia and to capture villagers as military porter.
That combined troop captured 30 people from Kywe Htein Gon, 40 from Moseikkwin
and brought them back to Nyaungbingwin village where the troop stationed. (
Continues Forced Labour on
Since from the beginning of September 2000, Burma Army's
No.8 Operational Commanding Headquarter had ordered No.2 Tactical Command under
its control to examine the damages of Bongti-Tavoy road cause by erosion during
the rainy season.
According to the field information the damages between Tavoy
and Myitta village are minor and there are at least 15 damages between Myitta
and Sinbyudaing (Kasawwah) villages. In some parts the soil were sliding away
and left only rocks. It needs to blast it of to create roadway through those
rocks. The damages were reported back in detail by No.2 Tactical Command to
No.8 OC HQ in the mid of September and No.2 TC was ordered to take responsible
to repair the damages.
To finish its task, No.2 Tactical Command had summoned
villages from the eastern part of Tavoy township such as Myitta, May Kan Baw,
Taung Thonlon, Heinda, Hpaungdaw, Bawagon and Pa Kayi village tracts to send
labors at least 100 persons per 7 days terms started from 1st October through
its frontline headquarter.
The mentioned village tracts have to work on that road every
year after rainy season where the road was damaged due to heavy rain. The
villagers earn nothing by working under the order of the responsible troops and
instead they have to bring along with them their own tools, food, cooking
utensil, medicine (for in case of sickness by working under the summer sun in
malaria infested terrain). In the last year (1999) about 10 villagers have died
by sickness on the work site. The military had not provided on health care at
those times. Those who unable to go and work on their term had to hire a person
on behalf of himself which cost 5000 Kyats (About US$ 12.5) for 7 days term.
(Note: 1
Bongti-Tavoy road project will connect Tavoy in
In 1997, Burma Army launched a major offensive against Karen
National Union’s Mergui Tavoy District and occupied the area for this road. During
the offensive, all Karen villages in Tenasserim Riverside were destroyed and
some were relocated by Burma Army to their controlled area. Most of analysis
found that the offensive is to secure the Yadana gas pipeline and Bongti-Tavoy
highway project as well.
TENASSERIM
DIVISION,
According
to him,
In
September 1999, the military authorities ordered Yapu village tract to work on
this project. There are seven villages in Yapu village tract. Those are
Mayanchung village (30 households), Yapu village (300 households),
According to this villager, the entire work of this rice
fields have done by the villagers. The work is ready for them for the time to
come on this project. In additional Yapu villagers forced to work on others of
Tenasserim Division, Burma: Burma army forced villagers from
Oaktayan village in Yebyu Township, Tavoy district to work for military
plantation since the beginning of 1998 and so on, told by a villager from
Oaktayan who arrived to the Thai-Burma border on May 26, 2000.
According
to that villager, there are 250 households in Oaktayari village.
Villagers
livestocks were banned to enter to this plantation. If the soldiers see any
straying livestocks in this plantation, they capture it for military
cattle-breeding establishment. If they could not capture they shoot at for
meat.
LIB
407 demanded 4 people every month as in term (regular) porter for the military.
They sent those porters to Yebyu police station. Then with the other porters
from the other places they sent those porters to lB 25’s camp in Tavoy town to
transport the military supplies to the east to their frontline camps in
LLB 407 demanded every household to supply a pile of
firewood (4’x4’ wide, 4’ high) each to their battalion
HQ camp monthly. If the villagers fail to supply such firewood, they have to
pay 800 kyat to the military. That battalion makes charcoal from these firewood
and sell it out for what they call “battalion fund”.
9.10.2000
Forced Labour
As it close to the end of rainy season SPDC's Light Infantry
Battalion 408 headquarter near number 1 rubber plantation In Yebone township
demanded bamboo's and loabours from Yebone village in the beginning of October,
2000 to substitute the obstacle fencing outside their headquarter compound
barbwire fencing with the new one.
As demanded from LIB 408, village PDC chairman Oo Thein Aung
had ordered his village to provide 100 bamboos per household and send to LIB
408 headquarter without absent. More over one person per household must go and
work to the new fencing construction such as searching and providing of log
post for fencing, splitting the bamboo and fixing it as directed to become a
new fencing. It included site clearing for the outer perimeter of the compound.
The whole task will took at least 10 days and if the responsible household
could not provide the bamboo by themselves they much purchase it from those who
able with 10 kyats per piece. Also those who absent to go and work at the site
must pay 500 kyat (about US$ 1.25) kyats for substitution.
In Yebone village, ever the military do not conscript the
military porters they used to demand villagers to go and work for their rice
plantations, timber felling, rattan collecting, planting the rubber saplings,
cashew saplings in their military plantations, supply raw materials for their
brick kilns, charcoal kilns etc:. Those who absent to go and work have to pay
500 kyats per day for substitution.
Extortion
Started from the month of June, 2000, with the order from
coastal Military command all the Karen village within Yebone township have to
organize village militia units and Yebone as a Karen village also had organized
a 10 men village militia according to village PDC chairman instruction and chairman
Oo Thein Aung is leading the 10 men unit for the village. After that chairman
as well as militia leader Oo Thein Aung said that to provide salary for the
villager militias he had demanded every household to pay 700 (about US$ 1.75)
kyats every month. (Note: 1
More than 300 prisoners were forced to construct
Bongti-Tavoy car road
In November, 2000 Burma Army's Field Engineering Battalion
No. 918 has survey a part of Bongti-Tavoy highway alignment at the area in the
east of Tavoy between Myitta and Aingwaing. During the survey they measured the
road and had planed to lay the stone.
To accomplish that plan the Engineering Battalion reported
to the commander of Operation Commanding HQ No. 2 that they need the workers
for the road construction.
On November 24, commander of OC HQ NO.2 has demanded 140
prisoners from
From the month of November, more than 300 prisoners were
forced to work on the construction site. They were forced to break stone every
day. They have to work from
It was learnt that some needed machine for the construction,
were supplied by a Thai mining company POMPIPET which had got a contract joinly
with the SPDC for mining concession at Hinda in the east of Tavoy.
Started from the beginning of dry season (September) local
villagers were also forced to work on this road until November. Even though the
villagers do not have to go and work on this road some villagers from Myitta
village tract, Kaw Paw (Myaykanbaw) village tract, and Pungdaw village tract,
who have chainsaws were forced to cut the wood for bridge construction for this
road.
Bongti-Tavoy road project will connect Tavoy in
Every year after rainy season local villagers
and prisoners were forced to repair the damaged parts of this road, because the
incompact road is always eroded under the rain every year.
On
(Note:
1
70 women
forced to serve as military porters
Tenasserim Division, Burma- Burma army’s No. 33 Division
forced 70 female villagers from Tahpohta village tract in Tenasserim division
to serve as frontline military porter.
On
Those women were kept at Tahpohta and waiting to serve as
frontline military porters for Division 33. Tahpohta village situated in the
east of Mergui town in
Burma army, mean of
their military transportation is forced portering
An interview with an
escaped porter from
Note:
There
are at least 25 battalions of SPDC’s troop assigned for the frontline areas in
Name: Ko
Than Shwe
Sex: Male
Age: 30
Yr.
Father’s name: U
Chit Tin, Daw Ohn Shwe
Ethnicity: Burmese
Religion: Buddhist
Occupation: Farmer
Address:
Me
and three other villagers from my village have started to serve as in term
(regular) porter on
Only
the porters are on the travel and no soldiers guarding us. When we left, the
SPDC authorities have given us the list of the supplies we have to carry. When
we arrived to the destination camp, the SPDC soldiers inspect the load and the
list. If the list do not fix with the load the porters will be facing action.
The. SPDC soldiers punished them by kicking, beating, and punching. In
addition, when they arrived back to their village they have to pay for
compensation in double for the lost. Therefore, there is no easy ways being a
porter. We have to carry our own food while serving as porter. Some villagers
have their own food to carry with but some who earn their living in
difficulties could not. They were not allowed to take any bit of the military
food they are carrying. Therefore, some poor villagers who could not carried
their own food; have taken a small amount of military food to eat on the way.
Those who done this did faced the SPDC’s official punishment. Sometimes it
happened often that the SPDC patrolling troops took away some food they want from
the porter or the KNU troops confiscated or destroyed the food the porter are
transporting. If it happened like that the village tract, the porter came from
have to take responsible by returning double price for the lost supplies to the
military.
Serve
as in term porter you were allowed to go back to your village after you have
served your term. Nevertheless, often during your term, the SPDC soldiers could
conscript you for the front line porter anytime. Me and U Aung Than, 47 yr.
were conscripted as the frontline porters after arrived to the Katawnni
village.
On
May 10, we left from Katawnni village with 50 porters followed a military
column of Light Infantry Battalion 376 to Htee Hta village to the east in
Tenasserim Riverside. One porter has to carry 24 Kilograms of rice, three
milk-can, three meat-can, two bottle of fuel (One and half Litre. 2 kilo. weigh
included bottle). From Katawnni to Htee Hta it took four days walk by foot.
Some porters who walk slow and did not catch up military column were beaten,
kicked, and punched. For those who got sick, have no chance to rest. After we
arrived to Htee Hta we were not allowed to return instead we were further used
as military field porters. Those who got sick did not receive any treatment
from the military instead we have to buy from the soldiers one Paracitamol
tablet cost 5 kyat. For those who have no money have no chance to get any
medicine. In this camp, malaria and sickness are severe and people died almost
every day. My fellow U Aung Than has died at Htee Htan camp because of malaria
and has not received any treatment.
I stayed at Htee Hta camp for more than ten days. Every day
we were forced to work for the soldiers clear the bushes around the camps. On
May 31, the troops from Operation Commanding HQ No.8 has arrived to this camp
and we the porters along with the troops of Operation Commanding HQ No.9 left
for Myitta village. On June 4, we arrived to Myitta village. On that day, I ran
away because I fear that they may force me again to serve as porter. After I
have ran away I decided not to return to my village because I have not received
a recommendation sheet from the military that I have done my porter duty. When
you return without this paper the village SPDC authority used to blame that you
ran away from porter duty and they will arrest you and forced you to serve as
porter again. Therefore, I decided to coming to
In Naseik village
alone 720 people have to serve for military porters monthly
Tenasserim Division,
According
to that villager, there are 1200 households in Naseik village. The village was
divided into 24 administration quarters. Once a month SPDC’s village headman U
Win Sein ordered the villagers to transport military food supplies. Every quarter
were forced to provide 20 to 24 people. In Naseik village alone 720 people have
to serve for military porters monthly. The porters were sent to Infantry
Battalion 285 base in Palauk village. The porters were forced to carry military
supplies from Palauk to the east to military frontline
The
villagers have to take along their own food and expense. From Naseik village to
Palauk, carfare cost them 500 each. They have to pay all these expense to the
SPDCs village headman before they are going to serve as porter. The army gave
along the list of supplies that being transported with the porter to the
destination camp. At the destination camp, the soldiers check the supplies and
if they find something lost, they take action against the porter. The porters
have to pay compensation for the lost, (for example if 4 kegs of rice was lost
they have to pay 150 kyat compensation, 500 kyat for one milk-can, and 500 kyat
for one meat-can.) For those who could not pay the compensation was tortured by
the soldiers and was not let to return. The punishment was to serve as forced
portering along with the military operation. Female porters have to take along
3,000 Kyat with them for fearing to be punished. The soldier often accused the
porters that the supplies were lost on the way and asked compensation and
punished them.
According
to the local villager, many people got sick after they have served as porter.
In May, 40 people have to attend the regional hospital. The hospital was
overcrowded and some patients were sent to Naseik village monastery
where
the authority set up a temporary health care. During more than one year, at
least 40 villagers have died because of sickness after portering.
Over-lapped
burden
In
addition, SPDC’s township authority ordered Nasaik villagers build an earthen
dyke along the
Note:
There are at least 25 battalions of SPDCs troop assigned for
the frontline areas in
[Tenasserim Division,
According to him, in August, 2000 Burma Army' Operation
Commanding HQ No.8 ordered its Tactical Command No.2, to take responsible to
transport more than 1332 sacks of rice, (One sacks = 50 Kg.), 5749 meat can
(one meat can = 1 ounce) from Myitta village to deserted Karen village Kwe Waw
Wa where their force camped. Those food supplies for three months ration for
their frontline troops at Thuka border area.
On
Villagers have to carry food from Myitta to Kwee
Villagers in the east of Tavoy
were continuously forced to transport military food supply to the frontline by
Burma Army. The demands of forced portering, porter fees became a weekly,
monthly burden for the local villagers. The situation came worse when Burma
Army launched offensives against KNU Mergui-Tavoy District in 1997 and occupied
its HQ. All the Karen villages in Tenasserim Riverside were destroyed during
those offensives and some villages in the east of Tavoy were forcibly relocated
by Burma Army to their controlled area. Most analysis has found that Burma
Army's offensive in 1997 is to secure Yadana gas pipeline and their economic
development purposes.
On Novermber 2, 2000, Burma Army's Light
Infantry Battalion 561 combined with village militia from Nyaung Bin Gwin
village arrived to Taket village tract in
On
On
On
On November 15, 2000,
Burma Army's LIB 559's commander Lt. Col Kyi Shein and LIB 560 commander Lt.
Col. Htay Win forced the villagers in Manorone area in Mergui district (who
have not served as porter as ordered) to give money instead. The villagers are
from Manorone, Klaw Thoo Wow. Lahpoonge, Mukwah, Hkechaung. The officers
ordered the village tract chairman U Maung Oo to dictated and collect 7000
kyats from 20 households and sent it to the commanders. Those who unable to
give the dictated money have to go and serve as porter to the borderline Burma
Army's military camp Ko Thet Loo. Villagers who could not give the dictated
money and have to go and serve as porters to the frontline camp were 30 men
form Manorone, 15 from Taung Nge, 5 form Lahponge, 10 from Hkechaung and
totally they were 60.
TENASSERIM
DIVISION, BURMA-There were 137 internally displaced persons from
On
Karen
villages, which situated around Buthawplaw (Ler Mu Lah Township) area were
deserted since
The
In brief
A troop of 20 men from
On
1. Saw
Hkaw Boo
2. Saw
Htoo Waw
3. Saw
Hpo Per
4. Saw
Aye Kyaw
5. Saw
Hso Hso
6. Saw
Eh Say
7. Saw
Maung Lwin
8. Saw
Nyan Lin
9. Saw
Hsa Pree
10. Saw
Hsa Thwe Say
11. Saw
Nga Mwe
12. Saw
Hpa Thwe
13. Saw
Hpaw Eh Doh
14. Saw
Hpee Hko
15. Saw
Win Kyi
16. Saw
Lah Hpo
17.
Saw Yo Ha
18. Saw
Pah Saw Bleek
19. Saw
Pra Set
20. Saw
Hte Lo
21. Saw
Ta Ler
22. Saw
Saw De Kay
23. Saw
Bleek
24. Saw
Htay Than and
25. Saw
Eh Hta.
They were formerly
form Taket Hswe Plaw (Thagyet Ganangwin) village in Tenasserim township, who
have fled away from forced relocation ordered by the SPDC's troops. Since their
captured they have to show up themselves to the military camp when ever they
were ordered.
On 22.7.2000, Burma Army LIB 263 arrived to Ta Hpo Hki
village. They saw a villager Saw Ka Ree running out from them and shoot at that
villager. Missing the runaway villager the troop burnt down four houses with it
all utensils in the houses.(
A
troop of 150 men from Burma army’s Light Infantry Battalion 559, 560, and Taung
Nge village militiamen has burnt down a Karen village Kyo Ko in Tenasserim
Township, Tenasserim division, on September 20, 2000.
On
September 19 a column from
That
troop stationed at the village for one night and in the next day on September
20, they burnt down the villager’s houses in Kyo Ko village, Manorone village
tract. All of the 19 houses were burnt down except a church and a school. That
troops ordered the villagers to dismantle it or the army will burn down the
church and the school. The villagers refused to and said the army can burn it
if they wish to do so. During this report was made the church and school is not
burn by
The 19 houses burnt down by
(1)
Saw Per Ler (100000
Kyat)
(2) Naw Hsa Khin (350000
Kyat)
(3) Saw Tin Myint (600000
Kyat)
(4) Naw Khi Win (200000
Kyat)
(5) Saw Kyin Soe (100000
Kyat)
(6) Saw Shwe Din (400000
Kyat)
(7) Thera Wiilly (400000
Kyat)
(8) Saw Creamer (200000
Kyat)
(9) Saw Than Bu (50000
Kyat)
(10) Saw Tha Meh (400000
Kyat)
(11) Saw Than Win (400000
Kyat)
(12)
Saw Ka Hton (150000
Kyat)
(13) NawHaMay (50000
Kyat)
(14) Saw Kye Ray (300000
Kyat)
(15) Saw San Lin (50000
Kayt)
(16) Saw Tee Th Baw (100000
Kyat)
(17) Saw Tee (700000
Kyat)
(18) Saw Aung Win (500000
Kyat)
(19) Naw Hsa Aye (50000
Katy)
On
Army burnt down a Christian church
A troop of
Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion 373 has
destroyed six paddy plantations belong to Karen villagers who are hiding from
On
(1) Saw Perler (approximate 2 acres)
(2) Saw Shwe Htoo (approximate 2 acres)
(3) Saw Pret (approximate 1 acre)
(4) Saw Lah Hton (approximate 3 acres)
(5) Saw New (approximate 3 acres)
(6) Saw Kye (approximate 2 acres)
Karen villages, which have situated around Buthawplaw (Ler
Mu Lah Towship) area were deserted because of Burma Army offensive against
KNU's (Karen National Union) Mergui-Tavoy District in 1997. Few villagers fled
to
The Burma Army's intention is to eliminate the ethnic Karen
IDPs who are hiding in the area by killed, burn and destroy practices.
Started from April 2000 villagers who are hiding around
Buthawplaw area are facing constant
"search destroy and kill" operations launched by Burma Army.
Some escaped to
On
2.7.2000 some troops from Burma Army, Division 99 arrived to a place called
Hsaw Hay Hki and captured a villager named Saw Khin Win and asked for a
firearm. When Saw Khin Win unable to give, they called along him back to their
camp. That troop has looted all the household utensils, cloths and other
belonging from the house there. (
On
15.7.2000, troop from LIB 561 led by battalion commander Lt. Col. Min Din and
Nyaungbingwin village militia led by Ja-pan arrived to a cattle trading route
and waiting the traders covertly at Yanmachaung in Kyeinchaung area. That day
they manage to loot 75 cattle and some cash from the traders and went back to
their battalion headquarter. (
On 10.8.2000, 60 men from Pawwat Hta village militia and Le
Thit village militia arrived to Pawat village area and shoot at the villagers
who are plowing their field and knowing that no one were hurt they took away
two oxen from the yoke and went back. (
On 13.8.2000, SPDC's village militia from Let Thit grouped
up their 30 men and went to Gyo Daung village. They met Saw Bee Hpo and his
family and rob off 3 gold necklaces from Saw Bee Hpo's wife, which cost more
than 100,000 kyats.(
A
troop of Burma Army has destroyed at least 11 acres of paddy plantation, and
loot more than 100 baskets of paddy, chickens and ducks from displaced
villagers in
On November 21, 2000, a column of Burma Army from Light
Infantry Battalion 408 (under controlled of Operation Commanding HQ No. 8) led
by Major Myo Win arrived to a villagers' hiding site, when they were searching
to destroy villagers' hiding site in the jungle. That troop has destroyed at
least 11 acres of villagers' paddy plantation, burnt down more than 100 basket
s of villager paddy and took way 15 chicken and 10 ducks. That villagers'
hiding site located in Myintmolekka Mount area, in the east of
In the beginning of November Burma Army's OC HQ No.8 has
ordered its troop to search for hiding villagers in their responsible area and
destroy paddy and paddy plantation or take for their troops. This is a season
the villagers are harvesting. Burma Army has practiced such strategy to search
and destroy villagers' paddy plantation on every harvest season, with the
intention for the villager not to have a chance to survive.
After the Burma Army frontline troop started their
activities around the area in the east of Theyetchaung township, it was learnt
that on November 11 two columns of LIB 410 led by Lt. Col. Yen Thein Ha has
confiscated more than 600 basket of paddy in the area of Kun Chaung Gyi
village. From November 13th to 30th LIB 410 has confiscated at least 3000
baskets of paddy from villagers who finish their harvest in the areas of
Kawtawni, Htuler (Kyaukhtoo), Kun Chaung Glay, and Kun Chaung Gyi.
Many villagers are hiding in
Note:
Basket: The standard unit of measurement of rice.
1 basket = 46 pounds (21 kegs)
OC HQ: Operation Commanding Headquarter. Burmese abbreviation= Sa Ka
Ka