2

During 2001, there continued to be reports of arbitrary and summery executions, rape, torture and physical assualt committed against civilians by SPDC troops and their allies The military officers and rank and file soldiers of the SPDC army battalions, leaders and members of the SPDC endorsed people’s militias (“pyi thu sit”), and other SPDC officials including MI, and Police were the perpetrators of these crimes. These acts of violence were largely committed against ethnic minority members living in armed conflict areas. Executions were largely committed against people suspected of being members or sympathizers of armed ethnic opposition groups and villagers enduring forced labor and portering duties. Summary killings also took place in the course of capturing villagers for the purpose of forced labor and portering. Women are commonly killed by soldiers after being raped for fear of leaving evidence of their crimes. Troops regularly commit these crimes with impunity, and in many cases complaints made by the victim or victim’s families are met with indifference, reprisals or threats of reprisals.

Many arbitrary executions are carried out in line with SPDC’s “Four-Cuts” policy, which is practiced in the areas of armed ethnic conflict against the ethnic minority villagers. According to this policy, the SPDC army has aimed to cut support to the opposition through mass relocations of villagers to areas under army control. Through detaining, torturing and executing villagers and village elders and leaders considered to have any contact with the opposition. Villagers found outside of SPDC controlled areas, including villagers in hiding from the army, and villagers outside of forced relocation sites are often assumed to be rebels or rebel supporters. Indeed, accusing a villager of being a rebel soldier, a relative of a rebel soldier, or helping rebel soldiers in any way is an accusation punishable by death. Villagers in resistance areas fear traveling outside their village, especially to tend their hill fields in the jungle, because they risk discovery by SPDC troops on patrol and the inevitable accusation of rebel activity. Villagers seen outside of SPDC controlled areas or villages are often shot on sight by patrolling troops without any kind of warning. As most accusations of rebel association are unfounded, this system can be used to execute almost anyone; for example, woman found in a village without their husbands are often accused of being ‘married to a rebel soldier’. Villagers can also be executed for simply carrying food in areas outside SPDC control, as the army assumes that the food is to supply rebel troops.

According to Karen Human Rights Group, “villagers shot by the soldiers are sometimes able to escape after being shot, only to die later from loss of blood. The soldiers often don’t bother to take the time to see what happened to the person they shot at. Other wounded villagers have fallen where they were hit, but rather than capturing them the soldiers have finished them off by shooting them at close range or stabbing them with their bayonets. The dead are often searched and robbed of whatever valuables they have on them. Sometimes the soldiers have mutilated the corpses. A villager from Kyauk Kyi township who was shot dead in January 2000 was later found with his liver and intestines cut out and his penis and testicles cut off. Even if the villagers are able to escape with their wounds there is little or no medicine to treat them and recovery is slow. Many die later from complications due to inadequate treatment, lack of proper medicines, infection or the need to continue fleeing, even if their original wound was relatively minor...

The soldiers shoot at men, women and children even when it is obvious that it is women and children that they are shooting at. It is difficult to see very far in the forest so most shooting incidents occur at close range where it should be obvious that the targets are women and children. In the open fields it should also be obvious to the soldiers who their targets are.....Villagers often express their bewilderment as to why the soldiers are shooting at them when they are unarmed civilians and have done nothing to the soldiers or to Burman villagers. Most villagers believe it is a part of a plan to exterminate the Karen people.

Hillside rice fields are open patches in the forest and are clearly visible from one or two hills away. At weeding time (August) and harvest time (October-December), more SPDC patrols are sent out to look for groups of villagers working in these fields and open fire on them. Working in family groups, they make an easy target even from a distance. Troops also watch for smoke from the burning off of hillfields in March-April, and smoke from cookfires at the villagers’ hiding places. Some displaced villagers have resorted to harvesting only by night with KNLA troops posted for security. When the SPDC soldiers are too far away to use their small arms they have used mortars to shell the villagers. If they see cooking smoke in the distance they fire a mortar shell at it. Even when they cannot find any villagers, they sometimes ‘walk’ their mortar shells up the valley of a stream (meaning to shell the whole streambed, aiming progressively further away) on the assumption that villagers may be hiding there. This method of attacking the villagers is more to harass them, but it does kill and it certainly can’t be claimed that the soldiers were trying to capture anyone.

The soldiers usually don’t call out to the villagers before they open fire. If the soldiers call out to the villagers it is usually only a split second before pulling their triggers, and the villagers are given no time to respond. Attacks on villages and IDP hiding places are carried out as military operations, sometimes including supporting mortar fire. The soldiers sometimes arrive quietly and silently observe the villagers before attacking them, giving them ample time to see that it is unarmed villagers they are about to attack. Other times outright ambushes are laid to trap and kill the villagers. In most cases the soldiers come so close to the villagers that there can be no doubt that the people being shot at are unarmed civilians, including women, children and the elderly. Villagers automatically run whenever they see the soldiers or hear gunfire because they know that to remain would probably mean being shot, or at best being detained and tortured or taken as a porter.” (Source: KHRG, Flight, Hunger and Survival: Repression and Displacement in the Villages of Papun and Nyaunglebin Districts, October 2001)

On July 3, 2001 troops from SPDC LIB 101 led by commander Zaw Naing Oo and DKBA troops led by Pah Ni Tho arrrived in To-tet-kee area where villagers were hiding. The troops discovered villager, Pah Ket Shee, in his rice field and opened fire, killing him on the spot. After killing him the troops burned down huts in the area and confiscated the property abandoned by the villagers. (Source: CIDKP)

On April 10, 2001, troops from Infantry Battalion 285 led by Major Ba Thet arrived in Me Ke Hkee village and shot to death a villager name Saw Po Pre, 50. The troops has burnt down his house completely including 60 baskets of paddy and all his belongings. (Source: KNU)

On March 27, 2001, a group of SPDC’s troops known as ‘guerrilla troops’ entered to Pa-ta-la village, Karen State and executed Maung Yee Peh, male, 46, without any reason. (Source: CIDKP)

On December 23, 2001 troops from SPDC LIB 350 arrested and killed Kaw-tha-say villager, Saw Ler Kyay, without reason in Nyaung-lin-bin District, Karen State. (Source: KIC)

On November 17, 2001, at 1:30 pm, combined troops of SPDC LID 44 and DKBA troops came to Kwee-lah village, Nyaung-lin-bin District, Karen State and shot at villagers while they were in their paddy field, killing villager Saw Ba Blu. After killing Saw Ba Blu, the troops looted all of his possessions. (Source: KIC)

On November 12, 2001 at 2:00 pm, combined troops of SPDC IB 73, led by San Myint, and a guerrilla unit, came to Saw-kai-khee village, Kwee-dee-kaw village tract, Mone Township, Nyaung-lin-bin District, Karen State and seized villagers and students in classes, without reason, killing villager Saw Pah Ka. Villagers arrested were Saw Ah Ray Lo Ni, Naw No Ywa, Naw Thaw Htoo Paw Naw Moo Mo and her daughter Naw Thaw Gay Set Lar. Students arrested were Naw Eh Hser Paw, Saw Law Ba Htoo, Saw Myo Say, Saw Ka Paw Wah, Saw Ka Lu Taw, Naw Chit Play, Naw Shai Baw Paw, Naw Htee Ta Paw and Naw Hser Nay Kaw Paw. The army later released Saw Ah Ray Lo Ni and took the rest to Mone Town, on November 21, 2001. (Source: KIC)

On October 23, 2001, troops from a unit of SPDC shot and killed Ler-kla villager Saw Di Shee without any reason in Nyaung-lay-bin District, Karen State. (Source: KIC)

On September 29, 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 440 led by major Myat Swe combined with troops from the so-called SPDC guerrilla unit led by Kyaw Kyaw came to Thet-baw-doe village, Nyaung-lay-bin District, Karen State and shot and killed villager Saw Bi Klo without reason. (Source: KIC)

On September 26, 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 440 came to Thet-baw-doe village, Nyaung-lay-bin District, Karen State, and killed villager, Saw Be Ko, without any reason. (Source: KIC)

On August 22, 2001, the combined troops of SPDC LIB- 503 /17/301 entered Saw Tay Der village tract area, near Mon township. On August 23 they found and shot and dead Saw Tay Der villagers (1) Saw Heh Lay, age 51, Saw Eh Blu alias Ah Li Sha, age 29, Naw Ma Gret, age 61. (Source: KORD)

On May 29, 2001, the SPDC guerilla troop led by Thin Lwin entered Weh Gyi village, near Mon township and shot and killed a villager namely Saw Paw Rah age (28) at the same time destroyed 4 water pump engines of Byet Kyeh villager. The troop also seized and beaten up 4 villagers of Haw Kho Gaw village. They were;-Saw Htee Mya, Saw Hto Be Bay, Saw Moe Kyaw and Saw Kwe Lay Lo. Mover over the troop extorted kyats 60,000 from those villagers by accusing them of communicating with Nga Pway (Karen Resistance Group) (Source: KORD)

On May 16, 2001, SPDC troops, from LIB-120 entered in to the paddy farms of the villagers in the No-2 zone area in Shwe Kyin township and shot at villagers working in the farms. One villager, Saw Kyaw Khin, 30, son of Saw Kyaw Mya died on the spot. After shooting at the villagers there, their troop took and ate 2 tins of white rice, took 6 cooking pots, clothing including blankets and poured out 5 baskets of paddy and finally burnt out all paddy huts of the villagers. (Source: KORD)

On May 4th 2001, Battalion #19 killed a villager in his house at Paw Dee Der village, Bwah Der village tract, Bu Tho township. His name was Saw Pa Dway, 38 years old, and he was mentally handicapped. His mother and father are dead and he was staying with his siblings. His siblings told him to flee and stay outside the village when the Burmese came, but he didn’t listen. He stayed in the house. The people fled for two days and he didn’t get any rice to eat. He didn’t die from hunger though. The Burmese shot him dead. They shot him five or six times. The next morning the people buried him. (Source: field report from KHRG field researcher (Field Report #21, 5/01)

On March 27, 2001, the SPDC so-called guerrilla troops killed Pa-ta-la villager, Maung Yee Peh (M, 46), without any reason. (Source: KIC)

On March 9, 2001, Mae-yai-khee villager Saw Po Dah was shot to death, with out reason, by SPDC troops. (Source: KIC)

On February 8, 2001, Camp Commander Zaw Win Htay of SPDC LIB 349, beat to death Chone-in villager Maung Moe, without any reason. (Source: KIC)

On December 24, 2001, DKBA troops from brigade 999 seized Pah Naw Htay (m), age 35 from Htee-moo-hta village, Kaw-ka-reik Township, Dooplaya District, Karen State and took him to DKBA Kok-ko camp and killed him without reason.
(Source: KIC)

On October 29, 2001, at 9:14 hours, troops from a KNLA battalion clashed with troops from a column of SPDC LIB 283 in Kyauk-kwa village, Dooplaya District, Karen State (a village close to the Thai-Burma border) in Kaw-ka-reik Township. During the clash the SPDC troops shot and wounded village head Saw Maung Pya (M, 48) and villager Saw Thaung Nyin Paw (M, 28) of that village. After the clash the SPDC troops gathered the villagers at the village monastery. While they were gathering the villagers, at 0930 hours, the troops shot to death the wounded village head Saw Kyaw Aye and villager Saw Thaung Nyin Paw in the house of Saw Kyaw Aye, (M, 60). Those troops also searched and arrested Saw Maung Kyi (M, 50) who was hiding and tortured him. After that, those troops looted 5,000 Thai Baht, some Burmese currency, utensils, clothing and rice from the house of Saw Kyaw Aye. Those troops went to search in the houses of Kyauk-kwa villagers and looted all household materials they want making the total worth about 40,000 Baht. Due to the shooting to death, looting and torturing, the villagers no longer dare to live in the village and they fled away and hid in the jungle. (Source: KIC)

On October 12, 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 548 led by column 2 commander, Marjor Nay Myo came to Kweeh-kler village of Kaw-ka-riek Township, Dooplaya District, Karen State and killed Saw Pah Ta Ler (M, 23), son of Saw Lu Pu without any reason. (Source: KIC)

On October 10, 2001, at 10:15, troops from SPDC LIB 548 column 1 led by commander Nai Lwin came to Tha-min-lit village, Kya-in Township, Dooplaya District, Karen State and shot and killed without reason, Saw Mu Tu M, 26, son of Saw Tin Htun and looted all household items found in his house a some from other villagers. (Source: KIC)

In the month of April 2001, a group of Burma Army’s troop from Light Infantry Battalion 548 and 549 led by Company Commander Aung Khain Soe has arrived to an internally displaced people hiding site between Wah Blaw Lu and Ta Kaw Htee, in Kya Aye Township, Doo Pla Ya District and open fire on the hiding villagers. Two villagers were killed and another two escaped wounded. (Source: Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department)

On March 5, 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 549, shot to death a farmer at his hut, near Ta-aye-shay village, Noh-po-klo area, and looted from him various items worth about 20,000 Kyat. (Source: KIC)

On December 2, 2001 SPDC troops seized Saw Thein Shwe of Keh-leh-doe village, Lu-thaw township, Papun District, Karen State took him to Maw-poo and extorted from him 20,000 Kyat and 200 Baht. These troops also looted a bag of clothing from Keh-leh-doe villager Saw Shwe Kyai Doo. On same day at 08:30 am, these troops shot and killed Htaw-thu-doe villager, Saw Nay Gay Htoo (m) age 20, and looted from him 130,000 Kyat. They also looted food and household items from other villagers. (Source: KIC)

On November 20, 2001, combined troops of SPDC LIB 17 and 503 shot and killed without reason, Saw Thein Swe (m), age 50, Saw Ba Htoo (m), age 40, and Saw Pa Hla Yweh (m), age 50 from Ma-mee-pu village, Lu-thaw Township, Papun District, Karen State. These troops also looted some of their possessions. (Source: KIC)

On November 10, 2001, at 16:30 hours, troops from SPDC No. 503 battalion, column 1 shot and killed Baw-lay-doe villager Saw Hai Ha (M, 65), without reason in Papun District, Karen State. (Source: KIC)

On July 25, 2001, a group of SPDC troops came to Htee-pway-kee village and killed villager Naw Yeh (F, 32) and arrested Saw Maung Deh (M, 34) and took him with them. (Source: KIC)

On July 25, 2001, a group of SPDC troops came to Htee-pway-kee village, Papun District, Karen State and killed villager Naw Yeh (f), age 32, and arrested and abducted Saw Maung Deh (m), age 34. (Source: KIC)

On May 15, 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 247, under LID 77, led by battalion commander Win Myint came into Deh-hta village in Lay-kor-hti area, Papun District, Karen State and shot to death Pah Kyi Noe, M-27, son of Saw Maung Nyien, without any reason. (Source: KIC)

On May 4, 2001, at 1020 hours, troops from SPDC LIB 19, came to Paw-dee-doe village, Papun District, Karen State and shot to death the village head Saw Pah Dee, M, 35, without any reason. (Source: KIC)

On April 27, 2001, Second lieutenant Htoo Loo from DKBA Ka-hsaw-wah battalion came to Ka-thay-kee village, Papun District, Karen State and shot to death villager, Saw Eh Paw, M, 40. (Source: KIC)

On April 11, 2001, at 1530 hours, combined troops from SPDC IB 36, led by battalion commander Tin Lin, and DKBA Ka Hsaw Wah battalion, led by Bo Ba Yo, Pah Si and Kyaw Khaing, came to Mae-nyu-ta village. On 12-4-2001, the troops left Mae-nyu-ta and, on their way, looted 2 baskets of rice, 12 chickens, 2 pigs and 30 baskets of paddy from Bo-ler-der villagers, Papun District, Karen State. Moreover, they burnt down a barn, a hut and a house of villager Saw Law Bo. In their indiscriminate shooting at Bo-ler-der villagers they killed Saw Bay Clay (M, 19) and wounded Saw Pah Di (M, 50) and his child. (Source: KIC)

March 16, 2001, the SPDC LIB 76, battalion commander Min Kyi Oo and his soldiers shot and killed villagers who came back from a festival between Ma Lay Ler and Kwee Ta Ma, Papun District. Two villagers died and one was wounded as a result. They were (1). Maw Soe Myint, age (20) the Ka Neh Khaw Hla villagers (2) Saw Eh Ka, age (25) the Ka Neh Khaw Hta villager and (3) Saw Maw Hla, age (26), the Lay Khee villager. (Source: KORD/KIC)

On January 9, 2001, troops from SPDC IB-340 entered in to Kayhta village, Papun District, Karen State and shot and killed Saw T’pay, age 50. Then they forcefully took 10 tins of white rice, 5 boxes with different kind of things inside and 20 visses of chicken and seized 5 villagers and forced them to go along with them and carry things for their troops. (Source: KORD)

On December 23, 2001, soldiers from SPDC IB-6 came to Paw-gi-khee village, Bilin Township, Thaton District, Karen State and shot to death Mae-naw-theh village secretary without reason. These troops then entered the house of Tee Hsa Doo and looted money and household items, and destroyed all the paddy they found. They then seized and tortured Saw Aung Htun (m),age 30, son of Tee Hsa Doo and took from him a wristwatch and a pair of shoes. (Source: KIC)

On December 11, 2001, soldiers from SPDC LIB-313, under LID-77, shot and killed Khaw-po-peh villager Ma Yu Pi (f), age 19, daughter of Maung Nyo and Moo Mu, without reason in Thaton District, Karen State. (Source: KIC)

On August 3, 2001 at 3:00pm in the evening a group of SPDC troop IB-124 based in (Ba Yint Naung Ta Myo) Ba Yint Noung Military town led by the battalion commander Thu Ra Saw Mya Thoung found and raped a young woman Naw Moo Kler, 20 years old. The troop found and raped her at the place between Than Doung Gyi and Kyauk Kone, section (5), Than Daung Township and after they finished the troop killed her. Naw Moo Kler was a teacher, living in Than Doung town, section (2) and her father’s name is Saw Khin Maung. The troop also took 1 golden necklace, 1 golden ring and 1 watch that would cost 100,000 kyats from her. (Source: KORD, KIC)

On July 14, 2001, the SPDC, LIB-30, column led by Cap- Thain Htun shot and killed 2 Wa Tho Kho villagers beside Kaw Thay Der village called Tha Ker Hta, Than Daung Township. The 2 villagers who were shot dead were (1) Saw Ah Po Lo, 33 years, son of Saw Ho Ra and Naw Lah Yu. (Source: KORD)

On May 13, 2001, the SPDC division (77) LIB-106 led by the second battalion commander Soe Lu La entered Htaw Klaw Khee village and shot and killed a villager namely Tee Oo Tin, age-60. On 14/5/2001, at 8:00pm, the same troop of SPDC division (77) LIB-106, led by the battalion commander Chong Toe and second commander Soe Lu La entered Htee Pa Doh Hta village and arrested 2 villagers namely Saw Pah Kyah, age-28 and his wife Ma Mya Aye, age-26. The troop tied them up, took them back to their base camp at Yo Klah and violently tortured them and set them free. (Source: KORD, KIC)

On December 19, 2001 combined troops from DKBA brigade 999 led by battalion commander Bo Ga Don and SPDC IB-35 (a total of about 120 troops), came to Thay-po-kyu place, Thay-doh-kwee village in the Mae-pa-leh area, Pa-an District, Karen State and shot and killed Pa-klo villager Saw Pah Bi (m) age 41, son of Saw Kyaw Yin, and Toe-kor-ko villager Saw Keh Keh (m) age 17 , son of Saw Pa Gay, after accusing them of being KNU spies. (Source: KIC).

On September 11, 2001, at 15:20, troops from SPDC LIB 10 burnt down 2 houses in Htee-mo-kee village, Pa-an District, Karen State without any reason. On the same day, troops from SPDC IB 108 killed a villager from Hgaw-tho-kee and one villager was tortured. (Source: KIC)

On September 10, 2001, at 2: 45 pm the combined troops of SPDC and DKBA IB-11, led by the commander Htun Myint came down and shot at the boats of villagers in the area of Taw U Hta village in (Ta Nay Chah ) Na Boo township so that one villager died, one wounded and the troop also took one Honda boat engine. People shot by the troop were (1) Maung Ma Pu (2) Saw De (3) Saw La Eh. They are the Nya Mu Klo villagers and among them one villager was captured by the troops. (Source: KORD)

On May 23, 2001, in the morning about 7 am, the DKBA -999, special battalion, led by Pah Mee Tout shot and killed a woman villager Mu Ga Ma La O, La Ni village, Lu Pleh township, Pa-an district near the sugarcane plantation. (Source: KORD)

On May 21, 2001, at 2:35 PM, some DKBA troops, led by Tha Khi came into Htee-law-theh-hta village and shot to death villagers Po Yoe (alias) Way Nay and Saw Kya Aye, M-30, without any reason. (Source: KIC)

On July 14, 2001, Sergeant Tin Htun from column 2 of SPDC IB 30, led by company commander Thein Htun, killed 2 Wah-tho-ko villagers at Tha-hger-ta near Gaw-thay-der village without reason. The victims were: (1) Saw Ah Po Lo (M, 33), son of Saw Tha Kyaw and Naw Ma Ngae and (2) Saw Htoo Maung (M, 25), son of Saw Ho Ka Ra and Naw Hla Yu. At the present, SPDC troops restricted the villagers in various ways, in addition to demanding food and forced labor to work for the military. (Source: KIC)

On June 8, 2001, at 9:00 a.m., a column from SPDC IB 75, came into Kho-lu village, Toungoo District, Karen State and shot to death Naw Pler, daughter of village head, Saw Meh Nay Kya, at Kwe-hta in Kho-lu area. These troops constantly demanded from Klaw-mee-doe, Hu-mu-doe and Ler-kla-doe villages money, meat and various items and also porters and runners to carry supplies. (Source: KIC)

On May 20, 2001, troops from SPDC IB 75, came into Wah-lor-klo village, Toungoo District, Karen State and shot to death villager, Saw Poo Lu, and looted from him 88,000 Kyat, 4 gold necklaces each weighing16-gm, 4 gold rings and 4 pairs of earrings.
(Source: KIC)

In the second week of January 2001, a group of SPDC’s soldiers led by Lt.Col. San Myint from Infantry Battalion 73 shot dead a 40-year-old woman in Hsaw Wah Der village, Taungoo district, in Karen state. Naw Boe was collecting vegetables in the forest when a group of SPDC soldiers appeared and immediately opened fire on her. She was hit by the bullets and died on the spot. The SPDC troops defined that area as a free fire zone after forcibly relocating the villagers away from there. The soldiers shoot anyone on sight without any questions in this area and conduct regular patrols to search for villagers who are not going to forced relocation sites and are hiding behind in their villages. This is a systematic practice by the SPDC

The old woman, Naw Boe was just collecting vegetable but soldiers from

IB (73) shot killed her as soon as they saw her. That practice (to kill local villagers)

including women, children was the usual practice by the SPDC troops.

troops to eliminate the ethnic resistance groups by deliberately targeting the civilian population. Villagers who do not go to the SPDC’s designated relocation sites, the SPDC consider as resistance supporters. There are 25 SPDC battalions active in the area around Hsaw Wah Der village, Kaw Thay Der area, in Taungoo District. Most of the local villagers here are farmers. (Source: CIDKP)

On December 18, 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 561, led by Bo Thant Zin, shot and killed two Ta-po-hta villagers: (1) Khar Maung Di 14, son of Saw Na Ha and Naw Lah Lah, and (2) Saw Baw Htoo, 16, son of Saw Meh Doe and Naw Dee Aye, without reason, while they were grazing their buffaloes in Mergui/Tavoy District. (Source: KIC)

On December 2, 2001 SPDC number 13 Special Commando Unit, Local Military Operation Command 13, led by Lieutenant Colonel Lwin Maung Soe, came to Peh-htaw-khee area in Ler-mu-lah Township, Mergui/Tavoy District and seized and executed Toe-kha-khee villager, Saw Aye Kyai (m) age 35, on the spot, without reason.
(Source: KIC)

On November 22, 2001, at 7:00 pm, troops from SPDC IB 262, led by battalion commander Tin Htoo, arrested Ta-ket village cattle traders, Maung Ka Nai, Sin Myaing and Than Jaung at Lay-ka-bla in Mergui/Tavoy District. After looting two gold necklaces worth 50,000 Kyat each from Maung Ka Nai and Than Jaung, they shot and killed Maung Ka Nai. Sin Myaing attempted to run away and the soldiers shot at him, wounding him in the arm pit and then seized him and sent him to the hospital at Tenessarim. On November 25, at 4:00 pm, the troops sent Than Jaung to Tenasserim jail.
(Source: KIC)

On November 16, 2001 troops from SPDC IB 25, led by Bo Khin Maung, shot and killed Kleh-kee villager, Saw Ser Gay and Ker-gaw villager, Saw Po Twe, of Taung-thone-lone militia unit, after accusing them of not being interested in the SPDC soldier’s work. On November 18, Bo Win Htein from SPDC IB 26 came to Ker-gaw and Kleh-kee villages, Mergui-Tavoy district, Karen State and paid 40,000 Kyat as compensation for the killings to the villagers. (Source: KIC)

On October 5, 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 54, led by company commander Aung Myo Oo, came to Myitta village, Mergui-Tavoy District and arrested village head Maung Mya Shwe. On October 7, 2001, these troops arrested Si-koo villager Saw Htwe Nge, M-36, son of Saw Beh Yo and executed him after accusing him of having no travel pass with him. (Source: KIC)

On September 5, 2001, troops from SPDC IB 280 accused Naw Ka See (F-30), daughter of Saw Kler, of having sold merchandise to armed resistance groups. They then shot her to death in Mergui-Tavoy District, Karen State. (Source: KIC)

On June 15, 2001, 50 soldiers from column 2 of SPDC IB 17 led by captain Kyin Zwa came to Pa-wah-plaw-pah-taw and Htee-hsee-baw villages and arrested 3 villagers. The troops executed a villager by stabbing him with a knife and burnt down 7 houses. In addition, the troops took away a video deck with Toshiba TV, 21 inches from a villager and 4 buffaloes from Saw San Win. The troops burnt down and destroyed household items estimated to be worth: (1) 45,000 Kyat of Saw Aye Han, (2) 40,000 Kyat of Saw Bluh Htay and (3) 44,000 Kyat of Saw Lah Beh. (Source: KIC)

On April 16, 2001, troops from Infantry Battalion 280 led by Khin Maung Aye arrived to a villagers hiding site Ka Hkee in the east of Palaw township, Mergui district, Karen State, and shot to death a villager name Saw Paw Bwe, 40, and burnt him with his house.
(Source: KNU)

On April 4, 2001 soldiers from SPDC Infantry Battalion 280 and Light Infantry Battalion 378 shot and wounded a villager, Sa Pe, 48, when they were patrolling around deserted Pecha (Pyicha) village in Palaw township, Mergui district, Karen State. Sa Pe was wounded and captured by the troops and later he was beaten to death by the same troops.
(Source: KNU)

On March 24, 2001, Troops from SPDC LIB 377, shooting on sight at villagers, who were hiding in Htee-ler-chaung-pyah, wounded 2 villagers Maung Ba Pu (M, 20), son of U Nyan Sein and Naw Moo Set (F, 17), daughter of Saw Hser. They took the 10 villagers they managed to seize with them. On the same day, the No. 2 column SPDC troops saw and shot up a group of villagers hiding in Htee-ler-chaung-pya and Taung-ta-lon-kyaw gully, without reason. As a result, Naw Ka Thet (F, 7) was killed and Shwe San (M, 29), son of Saw Paw Kyaw, was wounded. The troops took away with them 8 villagers, including children, whom they managed to seize. (Source: KIC)

On July 13, 2001 Byar Reh, 40, a villager of Hteepoklo, Deemaw Soe Township, was shot dead while returning from his paddy field at 10 p.m. by village militia led by Poe Reh. The Hteepoklo base of the village militia did not give any reason for the killing.
(Source: KNAHR)

On August 2, 2001 five soldiers stole from two merchants at the Ei Thi mountain, Thayetchaung township, Tenasserim Division. Daw Ma Ma, 34, was killed while her husband U Aung Myint Sein ran away. The soldiers looted some pieces of gold, 175,000 kyat and 6,200 bhat. The couple were from Chaung Wa Pyin village. The soldiers were from LIB 282 led by Lt Col Maung Maung. (Source: THRF)

On January 22, 2001 troops from Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion 402 led by Kyaw Kyaw entered to Wah Shu Ko (Seikphyone) village, in Tavoy Township, Tavoy District and shot dead a villager: Saw Dah Sein, 27 yr. son of Saw Shwe Tin.
(Source: KNU)

On November 2, 2001, a group of 10 wood cutters were fired upon by SPDC troops from LIB360, of the villagers 8 died and 2 managed to escape to a wood sawing site near Nam Haang river, 3-1/2 km east of Naa Kawng Mu village in Murng Haang tract, Murng-Ton township. These wood cutters, 7 ethnic Karen and 3 Lahu, had obtained written permission from the township forest department and had been cutting and sawing some kinds of hardwood, excluding teak, and selling them to the Wa group in the area and some well-to-do locals for some time. On the day of the incident, while the wood cutters were sawing wood on the bank of Nam Haang river, 3-1/2 km east of Naa Kawng Mu, a patrol of about 20 SPDC troops from LIB360 led by Lt. Thein Win opened fire at them without asking any questions or giving any warning, killing 8 of them. Among the dead were 6 Karen and 2 Lahu while 1 Karen and 1 Lahu escaped. According to the wood cutters, they had cut only some kinds of hardwood other than teak, and there was not even a single piece of teak among the lumber they had sawed. (Source: SHRF)

On October 30, 2001, SPDC troops from LIB314 shot dead a man on the road between Wan Sa and Wan Zawn village in Yaang Kaeng village tract, Kaeng-Tung township. The victim, Naan Sai, aged 36, was from Nawng Ten village and on the day of the incident had gone to have a drink with his friend at Wan Sa village. On his return in the evening, not long after he left Wan Sa, he ran into a patrol of 7 SPDC troops on the road between Wan Sa and Wan Zawn. Naan Sai was said to have once been conscripted as a porter by the Burmese troops for 3-4 months during which he nearly died and since then he was always frightened by the sight of the Burmese soldiers. When the SPDC soldiers reached Wan Sa village, they told the villagers that they had shot dead a cow thief who tried to run away as he saw them on the road between Wan Sa and Wan Zawn villages, and told them to go and see if he was their fellow villager. As it was getting dark, the villagers then made torches and went along the road until they reached the site, only to find that the man shot dead was not a cow thief but Naan Sai from Nawng Ten village who had been drinking at their village during the day. They then sent a man to Nawng Ten to tell Naan Sai’s family and relatives about his fate.Naan Sai’s remains were then brought back to Nawng Ten and his relatives conducted a funeral according to their traditions. After the funeral, Naan Sai’s family and relatives, with the help of their village headman, filed a complaint with the village tract leader.The village tract leader, however, did not dare to take the case to the township authorities and said, “I don’t see any good in complaining to anyone. No one could do anything to these Burmese soldiers. It could only bring reprisal and more harm to us. It is more advisable to keep quiet”. Naan Sai’s family and relatives did not know what to do and quietly returned to their village. (Source: SHRF)

On October 23, 2001, 3 SPDC troops from Ta Lur-based LIB 316 shot dead a villager from Naa Hai Long village in Ta Lur tract, Ta-Khi-Laek Township, who refused to let them use his motorcycle, near the Nam Laen River on the way between Ta Lur and Naa Hai Long villages. On the day of the incident, the victim, Zaai Yi (m), aged 36, was riding a motorcycle from Ta Lur to his village when on the way he was stopped by 3 SPDC soldiers from Co. No.1 of LIB 316. The soldiers told Zaai Yi to lend them his motorcycle for 2 days for free. Zaai Yi repeatedly refused to comply with their demand and after a while the soldiers became angry and shot him dead on the spot. After killing Zaai Yi, the SPDC troops did not take his motorcycle but hurriedly left the scene. Some farmers were working close by in their roadside farms when the event took place, and they went and related the incident to Zaai Yi’s relatives, who retrieved his body and conducted a funeral in accordance with their local traditions. Village leaders and Zaai Yi’s relatives later went and filed a complaint with the commander of LIB 316. The commander, however, not only refused to believe them, but also accused them of lying and scolded them, and even threatened to fine and punish them. (Source: SHRF)

On October 18, 2001 SPDC armed forces shot and killed two deserters from the artillery battalion based in Loikaw Township. Four soldiers, including a lance corporal on night security duty at the battalion, were given seven days fatigue duty for sleeping while on duty. As they did not like the way they were treated, the four soldiers deserted with their weapons. Members of LIB [Light Infantry Battalion] No 430 split into smaller groups and searched for the deserters. They caught up with two of them and shot them while the other two managed to escape. Those killed were L-Cpl Aye Ko and Pte Pyi Sone.
(Source: DVB)

On August 21, 2001, 2 Shan villagers from Huay Sa village in Murng Hai tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township, who were fishing along Nam Hok stream, were shot dead by 12 SPDC troops from Ta Lur-based LIB 316. The victims, Ai In Pan, (m), age 26 and Ai Sao, (m), age 19, were using small homemade explosives to catch fish when the SPDC troops suddenly appeared and shot them without asking any questions or giving any warning. After hearing the shots and witnessing the incident, villagers fishing nearby ran and hid in the forest. After SPDC troops left the scene the villagers came out of hiding and saw the victims lying on the bank of the stream. The soldiers had taken their wristwatches and all of the fish they had caught. The villagers returned to Huay Sa village and reported the incident to the village leaders and the relatives of the two victims who then retrieved the bodies and conducted a funeral.(Source: SHRF)

On the morning of July 7, 2001, SPDC troops from LIB 512 and LIB 515 shot dead 17 people, including members of a Shan cease fire group, civilian drivers and workers, some of which were ethnic-Burmans from central Burma. The incident took place in Nawng Leng village, 8 miles north of Pang Long town, Loi-Lem tonwship. (Source: SHRF)

3.Ai Lao (m), aged 28, a Shan truck driver from Pang Ood village in Pang Long area

4.Zaai Zaam Ae (m), aged 33, a Shan villager from Loi Khu village, Pang Long area

5.U Win Myint (m), aged 34, an ethnic-Burman day-labourer from Tha Zi township, central Burma

6.U Win Tin (m), aged 36, younger brother of U Win Myint (above), also a day-labourer

7.Myo Min Naing (m), aged 24, an ethnic-Burman day-Labourer from Tha Zi, central Burma

8. Ko Htay Nwe (m), aged 32, an ethnic-Burman day-labourer from Lawk-Zawk township

9. Zaai Long (m), aged 25, a Shan villager of Nawng Leng village, Pang Long area

On May 4, 2001, 5 displaced Shan farmers who were building a dam on Nam Khaam stream for diverting water to a field to grow rice were forced to stand in a row and then shot dead by SPDC troops from IB246 in Ka Li village tract, Kun-Hing township. There were 15 farmers working on the dam but 10 were away collecting wood and bamboo when the SPDC came and inspected the site. When the troops saw about 15 rice packets and only 5 farmers around, they started to ask questions and accused the farmers of being rebels or providing rice for the Shan rebels. The troops then forced the farmers to stand in a row on the bank of the stream and interrogated them, and eventually shot all of them dead. The farmers were among the displaced villagers who had been forcibly relocated to Ka Li village relocation site from the surrounding villages in Kun-Hing Township in 1997. (Source: SHRF)

1. Lung Thawn (m), aged 50, originally from Kaeng Lom village, Kaeng Lom tract, Kun-Hing

2. Zaai Pan-Ta (m), aged 45, originally from Kaeng Lom village, Kaeng Lom tract, Kun-Hing

3. Zaai Ka-Wi (m), aged 44, originally from Kaeng Lom village, Kaeng Lom tract, Kun-Hing

4. Zaai Khat (m), aged 40, originally from Kaeng Lom village, Kaeng Lom tract, Kun-Hing

5. Zaai Mon (m), aged 34, originally from Kaeng Lom village, Kaeng Lom tract, Kun-Hing

In mid-April 2001, a man from Wan Laao village in Murng Kok tract, Murng-Sart Township, was shot dead by a patrol of SPDC troops from LIB527 without any apparent reason. Zaai Wun, 25, and Zaai Kam, 23, had gone hunting and were returning home, each carrying a musket, when they noticed SPDC troops and they both ran towards their village. Without warning, the troops shot at them, killing Zaai Wun instantly, while Zaai Kam ran and escaped into the village. After the shooting, the SPDC troops came into the village and told the village headman that they had shot a Shan rebel dead at the head of the village and another one had escaped into the village, and ordered the villagers to catch him immediately. However, the villagers discovered they were not rebels and complained to the troops. They simply told the villagers to take care of the dead if that was the case, and left. (Source: SHRF)

On April 11, 2001, four vegetable farmers were arrested and beaten to death by SPDC troops, led by Lt. Than Myint, from Co. No.3 of IB55 between Maak Laang and Phuay Hai villages, about 1-2 miles north of Lai-Kha town. The victims, one male, Lung Mae-Tha, 49, and three females, Naang Mya, 22, Naang Zing, 23, Naang Phon, 19, were internally displaced farmers. After trying to survive by working as day-labourers for some years, these displaced farmers had been trying to earn a decent living by growing vegetables at a remote place about 2 miles north of the town. They had been carrying their vegetables to the Lai-Kha town market, early in the morning, when they were stopped by 7 SPDC troops. Some farmers in nearby farms saw this and, fearing they would also be arrested if they were seen by the SPDC soldiers, ran away. The 4 farmers were beaten and shot to death. Their bodies were later found by their relatives who brought the case to the village and community leaders. The complaint was lodged with the military authorities in the area, but they were told it could not have been anyone wearing military uniforms, and that unless the villagers could catch them while they were doing the killing there was no way to be sure who the culprits really were. The farmers were forcibly relocated to the outskirts of Lai-Kha town from their original village, Ter Leng, in Ter Leng tract, in 1996-97 by the then SLORC troops. (Source: SHRF)

On March 2, 2001, 3 Akha villagers were shot, two fatally, by 11 SPDC troops from LIB 331, led by Corporal Ong Htun in Pa Laan Noi village, Loi Taw Kham tract, Tachilaek Township. The three had been riding a motorcycle when they were stopped and shot at for no apparent reason. The relatives of the woman wounded in the attack requested permission to bring her to the hospital in Mae Sai, the Thai border town opposite Tachilaek, but they were refused. The victims were: (Source: SHRF)

On February 3, 2001, SPDC troops from IB226 shot dead a man from Nawng Saa village, at Yaang Ka stream near his village in Yaang Ka tract, Kaeng-Tung Township. He was catching fish with six other villagers when they were surrounded by SPDC soldiers from Co. No.2 of IB226. As they were being surrounded, Zaai Wong, aged 19, who was a distance away from the other fishermen, saw the troops and tried to escape. The SPDC troops fired at Zaai Wong and killed him. The troops then took the remaining five men to Yaang Ka village to join a bigger military column and 20 other civilian porters taken from other villages. The civilian porters set out on February 4, 2001, carrying military rations and clothes, towards the mountain ranges populated mostly by the Lahu people. They went through village after village, stopping only for lunch and at night, where the villagers were forced to provide food and keep watch. After 10 days they returned to Yaang Ka and were released. (Source: SHRF)

On February 8, 2001, 3 elderly male villagers were shot dead by SPDC troops from LIB15 of 99th Division, led by commander Set Wei, at Naa Loi near Khur Weet village in Waang Murng tract, Murng-Kerng Township. Lung Kham Hurng Paang, 66, Lung Su Kam, 60, and Lung Zaang Za-Ling, 60, were accused of supporting the Shan resistance. (Source: SHRF)

On January 2, 2001, 6 displaced farmers were shot dead by SPDC troops from IB66, led by Sgt. Zaw Myint, near Loi La village in Loi La tract, Nam-Zarng Township. They had been building a small earthen dam on a stream to divert water to their rice fields about 2-1/2 miles south of Loi La village. Khat-Ti-Ya managed to escape and staggered back to Loi La village to relate his plight but died about 3 hours later. Many villagers heard the shooting and knew who the troops were. They said Khat-Ti-Ya thought that he and the others were shot because they had refused to grow opium-poppies offered by the SPDC troops and had instead grown rice. The farmers were originally from Wan Nawng, Loi Khaang and Loi La villages, which had been forcibly relocated to the outskirts of Nam-Zarng town by SLORC/SPDC troops a few years ago. (Source: SHRF)

1. Zaw Mint (m), aged 24, originally from Wan Nawng village, Wan Nawng Kung Mong tract

2. Khur Seng (m), aged 27, originally from Wan Nawng village, Wan Nawng Kung Mong tract