(Source: Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

The majority of people in Burma are engaged in a constant struggle to meet basic needs as they watch their living standards steadily deteriorate. Due to misguided economic policies, rampant corruption and cronyism, and a disproportionate amount of the budget spent on the army, Burma’s economy has been in a state of decline since the 1962 military coup. At the time of independence Burma was known as ‘the rice bowl of Asia,’ but today one in three children is malnourished. On 21 March 2001 the SPDC UN representative, speaking about the national economy reported that: “A growth rate of over 10% has been registered in the current year 2000-2001.” However outside analysis is much less optimistic about Burma’s economic future. In a report released in April 2001, the Asia Development Bank (ABD) stated that economic growth in Burma had been lethargic, and was likely to remain so until key structural reforms were implemented. In November 2001 the ABD released another report expressing doubts as to the validity of economic data gathered by the regime, stating that official statistics are: “of variable quality and are sometimes incomplete.”

Independent data confirms that agriculture accounts for 60% of Burma’s GDP, employing 66% of the workforce and providing the country with 51% of its export earnings. At present, there is little potential for future growth in this sector under the current system of weak land rights, strict procurement policies and restrictions on exports. In many areas farmers are forced to sell a significant portion of their crop to the government at prices two or three times below market value. This effectively impoverishes farmers and dries up any tax revenue for the state. In 2001, government mismanagement of the economy was also responsible for the kyat losing 40% of its value. In November, rumors spread that the government was planning to withdraw large denomination notes, leading to panic selling of 100 and 500 kyat notes, which further accelerated the devaluation. This devaluation has exacerbated Burma’s inflation problem to the point where basic staple foods such as eggs, vegetables and peanut oil have more than doubled in price in the period between September and November 2001. State-controlled media has run articles advising people to use less cooking oil and adopt austerity measures for ‘health’ reasons. In truth people’s health is being threatened by lack of nutritious food, and there are reports that some families have had to give up eating meat completely because they can no longer afford it. While the government has intervened to prevent increases in the price of rice, some reports from Arakan State indicate that despite this, rising rice prices may have led to several cases of starvation.

At the beginning of 2002 the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), submitted a report to the UN Commission on Human Rights stating the following:

“The right to food is a fundamental human right, guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [article 25(1)] and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (article 11). Notwithstanding, the right to food of people in the Union of Myanmar has been submerged by the military domination of that country. Substantial evidence suggests that the Government of Myanmar is systematically denying food to the civilian population through a range of practices implemented to ensure perpetuation of its undemocratic rule. The People’s Tribunal has recommended to the Government of Myanmar that it “address widespread food scarcity throughout the country by giving highest priority to food security as a basic human right”. Regrettably, the Government has demonstrated unwillingness to alter its policies and practices exacerbating conditions of food insecurity. While the Government continues to assert that food scarcity does not exist in Myanmar, the Asian Legal Resource Centre has received regular and reliable independent reports to indicate the contrary. The Asian Legal Resource Centre remains convinced that the Government’s failure to fulfil its obligations constitutes a breach of international law. The Government of Myanmar must be held responsible for the pervasive food insecurity there....the Government of Myanmar continues to violate the right to food through denial of the right to work, pernicious taxation, confiscation of land and repeated demands for unpaid civilian labour. It prevents or inhibits people from working freely to achieve their food security. Farmers are not permitted to choose when, where and how to cultivate. In areas of armed conflict they are subject to unstable life-threatening conditions that prevent them from using their labour, land and natural resources to earn a living. In other parts of the country, farmers are the victims of policies that place their own well-being after the interests of the state. Regardless of economic circumstances, civilian communities are obliged to satisfy demands for goods and services from the military.” (Source: ‘Food Scarcity in Myanmar,’ submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) to Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, January 2002)

An estimated 66% of Burma’s workforce is employed in the agricultural sector and rice, being the nation’s staple food, is an integral part of this sector. The SPDC, which has retained central planning and control of food production in the nation, has made various attempts to boost the production of rice and other agricultural products, yet the methods which they have used have had disastrous results for the people who do the farming in Burma.

Cultivators in Burma have effectively lost the right to own land, as under sections 9-12 of the Agricultural Lands Act 1953 the right to transfer, partition, or lease land can only occur with permission of the authorities. In the 1963 Tenancy Act, the State usurped the right of landowners to lease their land, and the 1963 ‘Protection of the right to cultivation’ Act stipulated that land would be protected from confiscation, except in the case of a) non-payment of dues owing to the State, and b) disputes arising from inheritance cases or actions taken by the State for security reasons. The State was further granted authority to confiscate land through Notification No. 4/78, which was enacted on September 18, 1978. This notification states that failure to sow the allotted land with the earmark crop to obtain optimum results or failure to sell the full crop quota to the government at the stipulated price would result in confiscation of land. Currently village and township administrators have the power to confiscate land, and the cultivators are compelled to follow their dictates with no means of protest.

Farmers in Burma are required to sell a percentage of their crops to the government at discount prices. This regulation is, as a rule, enforced for rice crops, yet there are also instances where local officials demand farmers sell set portions of other harvests such as beans and fruit crops. This paddy procurement system is implemented by the Myanmar Agricultural Produce Trade (MAPT), a state agency which, along with other arms of the bureaucracy, inherited this mandate from its socialist predecessor. MAPT’s national structure reaches down to the village, where it designates paddy land and collects a fixed quota based on land area. This quota rose steadily from 1988 until 1995, when it was fixed at 12 baskets per acre in high rice-producing areas such as Irrawaddy Division. This crop quota is essentially a crop tax, and is justified by the SPDC as a means of feeding the armed forces, supplying discounted rice to civil servants, and exporting rice and other crops in order to gain foreign currency. Yet in practice, the system has failed to improve economic conditions in Burma and has denied food to the very people who grow it.

An inherent flaw in this system is the government’s quota calculation based on arable land area rather than amount of rice actually planted or harvested. Farmers who work poor land, or due to poor weather or other conditions produce an imperfect crop, are not exempt from the quota. Instead they must make up the difference by supplying paddy bought on the market. In these cases, the difference between the relatively high market price and the low government purchase rate results in a net loss for farmers.

Households that fail to fill the quota face a variety of consequences. For households unable to sell the earmarked quota to the government, the local authorities, with the help of the armed forces and police, often forcefully confiscate the household’s entire supply of paddy including that used for consumption and seed paddy. If even after such confiscation the quota is still not achieved, the defaulting cultivators are arrested and their rights to cultivate are taken away. While arrests and beatings have been reported, more common is the confiscation of paddy land, for redistribution to other farmers, whom the authorities feel are more capable of producing the required quota. Farmers have also been sent to labor camps to work off their debt. Local military authorities are also said to have ordered the rice mills to close, preventing the milling of harvested rice for consumption or trade until entire villages filled their quotas. Lastly, farmers have been threatened, berated and publicly abused by government rice procurers dissatisfied with their quota. In Mon State of Burma, as well as in other areas of Burma, the SPDC has implemented a new policy wherein farmers are forced to sign contracts agreeing to sell a certain portion of their crops upon harvest.

This inherently unjust crop quota system has left numerous farmers across Burma impoverished and/or landless. Corrupt officials often pay less than the set government purchase price, and occasionally the farmers receive nothing at all.

The SPDC has launched agricultural development schemes throughout the country, but especially in the Irrawaddy Delta area. The government’s main agricultural program is the summer, or dry season, paddy program, in which the traditional single rice crop per year, sown in the rainy season and reaped in the cool season of October-December, is followed by another crop raised and reaped in the hot season. The summer paddy scheme has several elements: development of irrigation systems such as dams and canals, introduction of high yielding hot-season rice strains, and use of new fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery to cope with the technical complications of the new crop.

These tactics have created two new burdens for farmers. The first is the labor needed to build roads, small dams, and irrigation ditches. State-directed, uncompensated labor is common practice in Burma. Farmers who work on these development projects have less time to tend their crops or other subsistence activities. Secondly, the chemical ingredients of the summer rice program are not distributed free to poor farmers, but are sold to them. Farmers who do not buy the necessary materials cannot participate in the program; their unproductive land, officially designated for double cropping, is reassigned to a more able household. Insufficiency of water added to the fact that inclement weather and unsuitability of crops to be cultivated on certain types of land are proving to be real deterrents to the country’s agricultural development. In some parts of Irrawaddy Division, farmers who could not meet the required quota had to pay the market price in cash for the shortfall to the authorities. In some places flood prevented cultivation. There were some areas where crops failed all the three times they were cultivated. These cultivators not only wasted their efforts and suffered losses but also because of their inability to fulfill their quota were arrested by the hundreds.

In some localities the cultivators who could not sow the dry season crop had to make payment at the rate of kyat 300 per acre to Township and village authorities who lined their pockets with these fines. Those farmers who do not have ready cash had to pawn or sell their cattle, carts, houses, etc., to pay the fines.

A side from the agricultural sector, the majority of laborers in Burma are struggling for their livelihood under harsh conditions with inadequate pay and no process or system through which their grievances can be aired. Under the market economic system, which has been imposed during the period of SPDC governance, workers in foreign investment and joint venture projects and factories have had to suffer the following;

(a) According to job appointment rules, the employer has the right to dismiss any worker from employment without giving a month’s advance notice, as outlined in existing labor laws. This grants excessive power for exploitation to the employer and prevents a stable workforce from forming at work sites.

(b) There is no process or system by which worker’s grievances can be aired, no mechanisms for demanding labor rights, no trade unions permitted at workplaces and departments, no clear mechanisms for resolution of cases where a worker was forced to resign (or rather, workers are afraid to complain) and no step by step appeal programs (for negotiations, interventions and plenary discussion) therefore, workers suffer considerably.

(c) Foreign employers and investors have established factories in Burma as well as in other countries throughout Southeast Asia. In Burma however, workers receive salaries from foreign employers that are much lower than other countries’ minimum wages. Private employers are in fact prohibited from raising salaries any higher than those of workers in nationalized factories. Thus, they cannot raise wages even if they wish to and so the workers are unable to attain a fair income.

(d) According to Burma’s “Leave and Holiday Act”, shift workers must work a maximum 48 hour week, and for offices and service industries 42 hours per week. However staff and workers in supermarkets and factories, which have appeared as a result of the developing market economy, have to work about 10 hours a day in defiance of labor protection laws. Working on Saturday and over time duties are also required, but there is no appropriate recompense, instead employees are sometimes paid a small amount of money or given some food. Social welfare laws are also ignored. As long as wage rates remain unadjusted to the current pace of inflation, workers continue to be denied a living wage. For example, the Labor Compensation Act excludes by definition workers earning over 400 kyat per month, so employers can claim that their workers are not covered by the Compensation Act.

Existing labor affairs laws are outdated and ineffectual, and minimum wage laws apply only to government employees and employees of a few traditional industries. The minimum monthly wage for salaried public employees is $2.00 (600 kyats) for what is, in effect, a 6-hour workday. Various subsidies and allowances supplement this sum. Neither the minimum wage nor the higher wages earned even by senior government officials provide workers and their families with a decent standard of living. Low and falling real wages in the public sector have fostered widespread corruption. In the private sector, urban laborers earn about $0.70 per day (200 kyat), while rural agricultural workers earn about half that. Some private sector workers earn substantially more; a skilled factory worker earns about $15 per day (4,500 kyat). Surplus labor conditions, a dismal economy, and lack of protection by the government continue to dictate substandard conditions for workers. The 1964 Law on Fundamental Workers Rights and the 1951 Factories Act regulate working conditions. There is a legally prescribed 5-day, 35-hour workweek for employees in the public sector and a 6-day, 44-hour workweek for private and state enterprise employees, with overtime paid for additional work. The law also allows for a 24-hour rest period per week, and workers have 21days of paid holidays per year. However, in practice such provisions benefit only a small portion of the country’s labor force, since most of the labor force is engaged in rural agriculture. Numerous health and safety regulations exist, but in practice the Government has not made the necessary resources available to enforce the regulations. Although workers may in principle remove themselves from hazardous conditions, in practice many workers cannot expect to retain their jobs if they do so.

Wages in Burma are simply not high enough for most people to live on. Even the pay raise of civil servants in April 2000 was unable to insulate them from the effects of inflation. This has led to high levels of corruption and migration to other countries, as people in all fields of work, attempt to find outside sources of income and chances to leave their jobs for better pay elsewhere.

People in areas across Burma are subjected to numerous demands for their hard-earned currency and their hard-pressed time. As the government spends an estimated 50% of the national budget on building up of the armed forces, there is little money allotted for the needs of the nation. Indeed, even the armed forces are not adequately provided for. In 1998, the SPDC in Rangoon informed its field units that rations would be cut back significantly, and that they would, in essence, have to ‘fend for themselves,’ by producing their own food or obtaining it from villagers in their areas of operation. Since that order, thousands of acres of land have been confiscated from civilians, without compensation, for army food production or factories. The ousted farmers and local villagers are then frequently made to act as serfs on their former land, planting and harvesting crops for the army battalions who took the land from them.

The SPDC has prided itself on undertaking efforts to improve the nation, such as the building of roads, bridges, and railroads. Yet it has been at the expense of the people of Burma that these national infrastructure projects have been carried out. The projects, which often are for military benefit, are usually severely under funded, and the local people are required to pay for or get the supplies themselves, and then build the projects themselves, at their own time and expense, without pay.

At the township and village administrative levels, there also is a lack of government funding. Again local people are made to compensate for these deficiencies in the national budget. The people in areas of armed conflict suffer the above economic burdens, as well additional demands which are associated with the significant military presence the SPDC maintains in their regions. Villagers in areas of armed conflict are expected to fully support the army battalions located in their area. They are required to build the army barracks, supplying the materials themselves, and then send “servants” to work as slaves at these bases. They are also forced to give them food, and any other items that army personnel demand from them.

Through several officially sanctioned fees and taxes, as well as arbitrary demands for cash from corrupt officials and army personnel, the people of Burma are expected to pay for everything from road construction supplies to state sport ceremonies. The income of Burma’s people is sapped by the these constant petty fees, and most households end up forced to pay several thousands of kyat per month in these types of levies. Many villagers are unable to pay and are often forced to flee their traditional homes to avoid punishment by the authorities. The most common types of taxes and levies are listed below:

- Porter and Forced Labor Fees: A common practice, especially in conflict areas, is for the villagers to pay a mandatory “porter fee” to the local army battalion. The funds collected from this fee are supposed to go towards hiring porters for army operations. Yet in most cases, these fees are kept by the battalion officers, who then proceed to demand that the villagers supply porters for the army, even after the fee has been paid. These fees are usually around 200-500 kyat per household, per month. In addition, villagers who are delinquent in providing their forced labor duty are made to pay fines of varying amounts to local government or army authorities.

- Administration fees: In several localities across Burma the local people are made to pay monthly fees for township or village level administration costs. These fees, and whether or not they are actually used for administrative purposes, vary from place to place.

- Festival and Ceremony Fees: Often the government does not provide enough money for their state-sanctioned festival and ceremonies, including religious and sport festivals, and even anti-NLD rallies. Where the government falls short, the people are expected to contribute. Government officials, including USDA members commonly send letters or go door to door demanding money for such occasions. In some instances, after the people have given their money, the said occasion never occurs at all.

- Taxes for Development Projects: As the social, education and health sectors of Burma are seriously neglected by the SPDC, and the thus suffer from an acute shortage of government funding, local people are often required to pay for the construction of educational and health-care structures, as well as for the running of numerous training programs. In addition, although the SPDC has taken credit for the various national infrastructure projects, it is the local people who most often foot the bill for such projects. Government funding for such development projects is often insufficient or swindled by corrupt officials and the villagers are ordered to provide the money or the supplies necessary for the projects.

- Taxes and fees for local army units: Civilians are regularly required to pay for the needs of local army units. In addition to demands for food and supplies, they must meet demands for other various expenses which come up, such as the need for army walkie-talkies. Villagers commonly cover the cost for the construction of army related buildings, or supply the necessary materials. In addition, villagers in conflict areas are often forced to pay for lost guns when soldiers desert the army, or pay for the upkeep of surrendered rebels.

- Arbitrary Fees, Fines, and Taxes: Army officers posted to remote conflict areas, as well as officials in central Burma all receive opportunities to extort money from local villagers with impunity. There are several army officers who have become rich as a result of the numerous schemes they come up with to acquire money. Therefore people are subjected to numerous ‘unofficial’ levies, fines and taxes. In some cases people are not even given an explanation as to what their money is going for, but are just told to hand over a certain amount. Officers and soldiers seeking money have been known to set up temporary roadblocks on highways or bridges to demand money from people passing through. Some of these arbitrary levies are associated with discrimination against religious or ethnic minorities, such as in the case of arbitrary taxes which exist only for Muslim Rohingya people in Arakan State. An example of this is the tree and roof taxes which the Rohingya must pay.

The well-documented use of civilians as forced laborers has endowed Burma with a mass labor force with which to build up its army and national infrastructure (See chapter on forced labor). This labor is mandatory and unpaid and requires that villagers spend varying amounts of time away from their own work. In addition to the economic strain that time away from work brings, the people are also required to provide their own food and equipment for the duration of the forced labor duty. The demand of forced labor is often the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back for the already over-burdened people of Burma. Most refugees and migrant workers cite forced labor requirements as one of the major reasons for fleeing.

As mentioned above, the government of Burma has taken the opportunity to deprive citizens of their land whenever they deem it necessary for “security reasons” or for failure to provide necessary crop quotas. In addition to land confiscated to make way for army battalions, the state often takes over land that is intended for development projects. People are rarely compensated for land that has been confiscated. In cases where compensation is given, the amount is usually well below the actual value of the land. The deprival of land, which is the sole source of livelihood for many of Burma’s people, is a major infringement upon their right to livelihood as well as their property rights.

Loss of property is an obvious hindrance to the livelihood of an individual and their family, yet the SPDC continues to engage in activities that result in the uncompensated destruction of property such as homes and fields. In areas of ethnic conflict this practice is carried out under the “four-cuts” policy, in which the army seeks to destroy any means by which rebel armies can survive. In part of this policy, known as the “scorched earth” campaign, SPDC troops relocate villages in known rebel areas, then burn and destroy everything in the area. Burning of villages is common following relocation or in campaigns to “search and destroy” rebel activity. Property is also destroyed by the army in other areas of Burma if it stands in the way of planned army, or national infrastructure projects.

The army in Burma, which sees itself as being the “father of the nation”, has long expected the support of the country’s civilians. The various incarnations of the military regime have attempted to instil a mentality in the people in which aiding the armed forces is seen as a national and patriotic duty. Yet this “duty” has become close to unbearable for Burma’s people. In the years since 1998, when the SPDC cut rations for the armed forces, the villagers have faced an extra burden in providing for the soldiers. The army personnel have always been underpaid, especially the lower level soldiers and privates, and this had led to their frequent looting of villager property in the past. Now this looting and expropriation of food and possessions is condoned by the State. Army units on patrol who pass through villages simply take what they wish of the villagers’ food and possessions, or else send letters demanding that the villagers bring it to them. Some officers even send “shopping lists” to the local village heads, requesting such things as soap, oil, chicken, rice, and cases of beer. The extorted items are rarely paid for. Villagers are even sometimes forced to provide money, food, and other requirements for army personnel when they wish to make offerings at local Buddhist temples. The HRDU compiled documents of numerous cases of this army endorsed robbery for the year 2001, yet due to the quantity of data referring to all the villagers who lost their chickens, gold rings, rice and ducks, not all collected incidents are included in this yearbook.

The restrictions on trade, travel and cultivation that the SPDC army has introduced, especially in areas of armed conflict have made things even more difficult for individuals attempting to make a living and survive. Many people living in areas under SPDC control are restricted from leaving their villages and must pay for passes from authorities in order to gain permission to leave. These passes are often only good for short periods, sometimes only from dawn to dusk. For villagers attempting to work in locations far away, it is nearly impossible to do what is necessary to make a living and then get back on time. The SPDC also has enforced special restrictions at times in which people are banned from leaving their villages altogether. In these cases, harvests are often destroyed or lost along with other work opportunities.

Trade restrictions imposed by the authorities also result in economic hardship for the people of Burma. Another factor which restricts breadwinners in the country is the existence of landmines, which limits the areas in which labor-seekers are able to move.

On 5 November 2001, a retired Muslim woman teacher from the ethnic Kaman community lost her life’s savings in a business partnership with Ko Pauk, another Kaman businessman. The Muslim woman, Daw Su Su Khaing, engaged in a legal joint venture partnership with the man, exporting bamboo and nipa palm to Bangladesh. When Ko Pauk misappropriated the women’s money, fleeing into Bangladesh, Daw Su tried to go to the police and lodge a complaint against the man at Maungdaw, a town in western Arakan State. However, the Military Intelligence 18 stationed at Maungdaw, took a bribe of 500,000 kyat from the accused and secretly sent him to Yangon. With no other recourse to recovering her savings, Daw Su returned to her home in Kasey Quarter, Sittwe. (Source: Narinjara News)

On 20 December 2001, the junta’s Military Intelligence (MI) forced 20 engine boat-owners to each give 7, 000 kyat to the MI in Arakan State, according to three traders who requested anonymity. Sergeant Kyaw Tee of Man Aung Myo MI Branch (10) called all the boat-owners at Kha O Maw jetty, Man Aung and demanded the money, the traders said. The boat owners were afraid that if they failed to comply with the demand, the MI would frame them for crimes they did not commit and extort more money.

1. U Gna Pyu Gyi, Tan Hlwe village, Man aung,

2. U Sein Tha Aung, Tan Hlwe village, Man Aung,

3. U Kyaw Pyu, Tan Hlwe village, Man Aung,

4. U Aloon Shay, Nga Moon Daing village, Man Aung,

5. U Kyaw Zan Hla, Nga Moon Daing Village, Man Aung,

6. U San Hla Phaw, Nga Moon Daing Village, Man Aung,

(Source: MICB)

Rice mills forced to shut down in Ponnagyun

On 9 October 2001, there were reports that privately owned rice mills had recently been forced to shut down because new rice mills had been opened by Military Intelligence agents in Ponnagyun township, in the northern part of Arakan State. The two new rice mills were established by a local MI agent and a police inspector in Yotoyoke, under Ponnagyun Township. The two law enforcement officers gave the local people a verbal order that any rice grown was not allowed to be taken outside the village for sale unless the villagers milled their rice in the rice mills owned by the two officials. Since the villagers have been forced to do this, five other rice mills in the area have had to shut down. Rice mill owners who have been forced out of business are: U Hla Phaw, Kyaw Zan Oo, Maung Mra Thein, U San Gyaw Pru and U Aung Phaw. The name of the police inspector is Maung Maung Soe [48], and the other rice mill is owned by the local MI authority. (Source: Narinjara News)

Burmese Army monopoly in Arakan State makes life difficult Cox’s Bazaar

On 11 October 2001, a political leader who recently crossed into Bangladesh reported that the SPDC’s monopoly on trade and commerce in Arakhan State, has made the life of the general population very difficult. At the beginning of the 2001 monsoon season, Burmese Army personnel throughout Arakan State started collecting fruits, rattan, cane, wood, bamboo and other agricultural produce at prices fixed by the military personnel, which were far below the market value of these items. At Pohribraung in Ponnagyun Township, the army began a stockpile of Anyan-thee fruit, paying seven kyats for a hundred, and selling the same amount for one hundred and fifty to two hundred kyats in Rangoon. Beginning in 2001 the trade of black pepper, a product of Pohribraung and Yotoyoke, Ponnagyun, has also begun to be monopolized by the military. In Minbra Township, LIBs [light infantry battalion] 541 and 381, seized more than one thousand acres of rice paddy in 1998 and started a shrimp farm; in Pauktaw Township, LIB 344 confiscated Ngapri island in September 1998, rendering hundreds of villagers homeless; in Ponnagyun, LIB 555 seized the tributaries to the Yochaung river, for shrimp cultivation, closing down waterways to river traffic. This means that Arakhan villagers have now lost access to waterways which are an important means of transportation. The SPDC’s commercial shrimp cultivation in Arakhan State has also threatened the delicate balance of the ecosystem. According to recent reports, the trade in shrimp, rice, peanuts, timber, motorboats, and small mills are currently all monopolized by the military. The money earned from these industries is used to support the families of the military, since the SPDC cannot pay the soldiers enough to live on. (Source: Narinjara News)

Border trade suspended between Burma and Bangladesh

On 26 October 2001, a local trader reported to Narinjara News that for the past two weeks the border between Maungdaw and Teknaf was formally closed. Currently, each day Burmese authorities allow only one boat carrying three persons to cross the Naf River. After crossing, the boat must come back to Burma within 24 hours. Previously a trader could use his passport to obtain permission to stay for at least one week in Bangladesh. Though there has been no announcement as to the cause of these restrictions, mounting tensions because of the war on Afghanistan, scarcity of rice, and fear of popular discontent within Arakhan State are all probable reasons the Burmese authorities have decided to suspend border trade with Bangladesh. Despite the restrictions, the illegal trade in rice, shrimp, pulses, salt and other agricultural produce from Arakan State still continues unabated under the noses of the military, paramilitary and police organizations. Local people have suffered hardship as the price of fuel, kerosene and gasoline, has sharply increased throughout the state following the official suspension of trade. In addition, many owners of small generators have increased the rate of their services. (Source: Narinjara News)

SPDC monopolizes farm management

Since 9 August 2001, the Development Council in Kangaw Township has forced farmers to buy paddy seeds, corn seeds and bio-fertilizer at high prices, claiming that the paddy seeds which they sell can produce 300 tins of rice per one acre area of land. These paddy seeds sold by the authorities cost 1,800 kyats per tin, the corn seeds cost 80 kyats for one pyi, and a bottle of bio-fertilizer costs 800 Kyats. However, according to U Tha Lu, a 50 year old Burmese farmer from Hanthawadi village of Magwe division, when the farmers actually grow the paddy seeds they bought from the SPDC, the seeds produce only 60 tins per acre. The authorities then purchase the rice from farmers, paying 350 kyats per tin. “It is totally unjust. When they sold the seeds to us, we paid 1,800 Kyats per tin and now they want to buy the rice back from us paying only 350 Kyats per tin” said U Tha Lu. The SPDC began this practice in 2000 and have continued to do it, even though they know it is damaging to the farmers. (Source: CHRO)

SPDC troops abduct civilian vehicles at whim

In their September/October 2001 newsletter, CHRO reported that according to Khuma, a driver from the “Zalat Phyu” truck association in Tahan, Sagaing Division, the Burmese troops constantly seize their vehicles whenever they want. The “Zalat Phyu” truck association was formed by truck owners, mostly Chins from Falam and Tedim of Chin State and Tahan of Sagaing Division. The association has about 30 trucks running each day. Since the Zalat Phyu trucks began running, the Burmese military have been using these vehicles without pay whenever they want. Most of the time, members of the truck association have to serve as porters for the SPDC LIB 266 based in Haka, the LIB 268 in Falam and the LIB 269 in Tedim. The association is forced to transport army rations, arms, ammunition and Burmese soldiers whenever they travel. The drivers have to carry their own food and the Burmese army does not give any payment to either the driver or the truck association. Khuma reports that he was forced to transport LIB 266 troops from Tio river, on the Indo-Burma border to Haka, the capital of Chin state. Khuma said that sometimes the Burmese troops abduct the truck to squeeze money from the association. When this happens, the truck is released only after the driver pays the army between 10,000 to 30,000 kyats. Furthermore, every vehicle coming from Kalay Myo has to transport one quintal of sand for the Buddhist pagoda being built at Lentlang, Falam township of Chin State. Also any vehicle passing through Manipur River has to donate 500 kyats at the immigration gate. (Source: CHRO)

SPDC from Tidim seized goods from a Chin trader

On 6 July, 2001 the SPDC authority in Tedim town, northern Chinland confiscated goods from a Chin trader and demanded 800,000 Kyats. Pa Thang, a 37 year old trader from Kalay township, Sagaing Division, reports that he was returning from the Indian border with his own car carrying goods including Digene, Betnovate and Calcium tablets to sell in Burma. The total cost of the goods was about 1.5 million Kyats. When he arrived to the town of Tidim, the township Peace and Development Council stopped the car and seized all the goods. When he wrote a petition to the authorities, they ordered him to pay 800,000 Kyats in order to get back his goods. He said that all the goods he carried were legal and it remains unknown why the authorities seized his goods. (Source: CHRO)

On 19 July 2001, Lieutenant Kyaw Kyaw Naing of Burmese army LIB 274 and his troops looted 23,500 Kyats from 32 year-old Mr. Leitho (name changed) and his friends at Aru village, Matupi Township, in Southern Chinland. As there is not sufficient drinking water in Aru village, a number of villagers had decided to contribute money to buy water pipes to drain water from a nearby stream. The money they contributed was insufficient to buy the water pipe, so the villagers decided to buy cattle with the money and sell them in Mizoram State in India, hoping that they would be able to buy the water pipe with the proceeds. The villagers bought 4 mithuns (type of cow), and Mr. Leitho and his friends were asked to sell the cattle in Mizoram, which is a 5-day journey on foot from their village. On 17th July, Mr. Leitho and his friends were stopped on the way between Sabawngte and Sabawngpi Villagea by Lt. Kyaw Kyaw Naing and his troops, who demanded that the villagers pay 20,000 Kyats. Mr. Leitho and friends explained their situation to the Lieutenant, stating that they were not traders, and that the cattle represented the villagers’ contributions for a buying water pipe for their village. Ignoring their explanation, Lt. Kyaw Kyaw Naing sent all the cattles to Sabawngte army camp. He threatened that if they refused to pay 20, 000 Kyats in ransom, he would arrest them and confiscate all the cattle. Intimidated, Mr. Leitho and his friends went back to Sabawngpi village. On 19th July, Mr. Leitho and the other villagers went back to Lt. Kyaw Kyaw Naing to pay the 20, 000 Kyats. Then, Lt. Kyaw Kyaw Naing demanded again that in addition to the 20, 000 kyats, the villagers give him a goat or 3, 500 Kyats to buy a goat. Lt. Kyaw Kyaw Naing said that he would seize all the cattle and arrest them all if they failed to meet his demands. Thus, Mr. Leitho and friends paid another 23, 500 Kyats to Lt. Kyaw Kyaw Naing on 19th July 2001. Mr. Leitho said that their hopes of solving the drinking water crisis in the village have been ruined. (Source:CHRO)

On 29 January 2001, the SPDC LIB-3, Commander Than Aung forced villagers from T’rwaeh Khee to give one pig which cost approximately 4500 kyats. Troops with the same commander also stole chickens and ducks from the villagers. On 3/2/01, the SPDC LIB-1, devision-44, officer Myint Lwin forced 2 wood mill owners to give kyats 60,000 and 2 tins of white rice. ( Source: KIC)

On 7 June 2001, Troops from SPDC LIB 106, under LID 77, led by Commander Soe Tun came to Htaw-klaw-hta village and extorted: one chicken from Naw Mya Doo, one Pyi of rice from Naw Khin and one chicken from Naw New.
(Source: KIC)

On 9 June 2001, Yo-kla camp Commander Kyaw Thet Naing from SPDC LIB 106, came to Htaw-klaw-hta village and demanded: 3 chickens from Naw Pee Net, 3 chickens from Naw Bay, 2 chickens from Naw Ma Htoo, one chicken from Pah Than, 2 chickens from Naw Hsa Doo and 2 chickens from Ma Thay Thay.
(Source: KIC)

On 12 June 2001, the SPDC demanded porter fees from 36 villages in Bar Aen Township, Karen State. The villages forced to pay included: Pa Ta Mya village, Kaw Yin village, Min Ka Yin village and Wha Po Taw village. Every village has about 300 houses, and the SPDC collected 1500 to 2500 from every 15 houses every month. The money went to the following SPDC army units:

(1) IB 203 unit 22

(2) IB 204 unit 22

(3) IB 205 unit 22

(4) IB 206 unit 22

(5) IB 118 unit 22 (Source: KORD)

On 10 July 2001 the SPDC troop from LIB-9, led by the battalion commander Myo Aung entered Ta Maw Daw village, forced the villagers to give them 100 wood posts which are 2 feet in girth and 30 feet in length. (Source: KIC)

On 7 September 2001, combined troops from a company of SPDC LIB 101 and DKBA Pah Ni Tho came from Baw-tho-ta to Baw-naw-po-kee area, Thaton Disrict, Karen State. The troops burnt down 7 huts in the hill farm in Baw-naw-po-kee area and looted all the household items that they wanted. In addition, the troops killed pigs and chickens for their own food. The owners of the burnt hill farm huts were: Saw Pah Ket, Saw Toe Kyayn, Pah Mu Sah, Bo Peh Kyay, Bo Thay Taw, Bo Kaw Ket and Saw Toe Lah. (Source: KIC)

On 7 September 2001, Tin Win from DKBA fired both heavy and small weapons at Ma Mee’s hill farm hut in Wah-ker-ta, Thaton District, Karen State and looted 3,000 Kyat and chickens from her. (Source: KIC)

On 9 September 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 106 came to Toe-teh-kee village, while troops from DKBA with 34 men came to Taw-klaw-kee village and DKBA troops led by Pah Ni Tho came to Baw-naw-kee village. These troops did not allow the villagers to carry with them any food while they were out in the fields tending their cattle (to prevent them from bringing food to insurgents). The troops threatened to kill the villagers if they saw villagers bringing food with them. The SPDC and DKBA troops constantly demand rice, sesame pastes and salt from the villagers in this area. In addition, the troops steal the villagers’ chickens at night. (Source: KIC)

On 10 September 2001, Pah Ni Tho and Saw Kyin Aung from DKBA burnt down 5 hill farm huts together with some rice and paddy at Ka-wah-ta village, Thaton District, Karen State. The hut owners were; Pah Pyauk, Pah Maw Bi, Pah Kya, Saw Htun Tin and Naw Po Sway Let. (Source: KIC)

On 10 September 10 2001, Ko Ko Naing from SPDC LIB 313 and Ti Kyu from DKBA arrested Klaw-ta villager Saw Po Lah and forced him to show them the KNU’s position. The villager could not show them these places and so he ran away. In retaliation, troops from SPDC LIB 101 and Pah Ni Tho went to Baw-naw-khee area, Thaton District, Karen State and destroyed hill farm huts and paddy. In addition, the troops fired heavy weapons at more distant hill farms. On the same day, the troops seized 40 villagers from Htee-pah-doh-hta village and Yo-kla village and forced them to clear landmines. Five porters escaped from the troops when they arrived in Yo-kla village. (Source: KIC)

On 13 September 2001,troops from SPDC LIB 106, DKBA Pah Ni Tho and Sein Kaw came to Su-kee place, Thaton District, Karen State and burnt down three hill farm huts of villagers: (1) Ti Kyaw, (2) Saw Heh Htoo and (3) Saw Maung Hu. In addition, the troops set up camp in the farms and destroyed paddy in the fields completely. On the same day, the troops came to Su-kee village and burnt down 2 houses of villagers Saw Maung Nu and Saw Maung Hu. The troops looted all household items from villager Saw Maung Hu. (Source: KIC)

On 17 September, 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 313, Led by commander Ko Ko Naing came to Wah-tho-kla village, Thaton District, Karen State and looted medicines and other items from villager Naw Tu (F). (Source: KIC)

On 20 September 2001, troops from DKBA led by Maung Kyi Khaing came to Taw-klaw-kee village in Bilin township and looted merchandize from a shop worth 3,000 Kyat. (Source: KIC)

On 25 September 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 7, led by company commander Myint Htwe, shot at Ler-ka-der villagers Pah Tet Nyet and Maung Nu at Poo Klay Pa’s farm in Thaton District, Karen State, without reason. Pah Tet Nyet’s leg was broken while Maung Nu was able to escape. After this, these troops came to Ler-ka-der village and threatened the villagers that they themselves would be shot if the information about the shootings spread. (Source: KIC)

On 27 September 2001, U Aung Maung, a member of SPDC, who was the village head of Ka-daing-ti village, Bilin Township ordered Htaw-klaw-khee village, Thaton District, Karen State to pay 10,000 Kyat monthly as porter fees and also threatened that the villagers would be punished if the village failed to give this money.
(Source: KIC)

On 28 September 2001, Moe Jo and Hsa Lay Wah from DKBA came to Nya-po-khee village, Bilin town-ship, Thaton District, Karen State and took away all items from the house of Pu Kyaw Kloo and Naw Kyaw Hsa and burned down the houses later. In addition, they planted land mines at the foot of coconut trees.(Source: KIC)

On 29 September 2001, DKBA troops led by Moe Jo, alias Pah Ni Tho, came to Paw-ta-plaw area, Bilin township, Thaton District, Karen State and burned down all paddy field huts they found. They also burned all paddy field huts found while passing from Paw-ta-plaw to Kyo-waing village. The troops also planted landmines on the paths going to villagers’ paddy fields at La-kyo-kho mountain. (Source: KIC)

On 4 October 2001, troops from DKBA Pa Ni Tho unit, combined with troops from SPDC LIB 106, came into Khaw-po-pleh village, Thaton District, Karen State and extorted from the villagers a pig worth 13,000 Kyat, 5 baskets of rice and 3,500 Kyat. On 5 October 2001, these troops came to search the house of the Christian pastor of Khaw-po-pleh and looted 130,000 Kyat of donation money and all items found. In addition, they arrested villager Saw Bleh Say M, 26, son of Saw Maung Tin, without any reason. They shot at him wounding him seriously. On October 10, 2001, these troops burned down a villager’s paddy field hut and one bullock cart. (Source: KIC)

On 5 October 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 101, led by second lieutenant Thant Tit with DKBA troops came to Pwa-hgaw village, Thaton District, Karen State and demanded 4 villagers to serve as porters, and a basket of rice, a Viss of chicken and a bottle of liquor. (Source: KIC)

On 6 October 2001, Thaw Mana and Maung Lone from DKBA burned down at Lay-taw-plot the villagers’ paddy field huts. The huts were owned by Tee Kazer, Po Net, Nyunt Lwin and Win Kyi of Ta-thoo-khee village, and Tee Po Lat of Pwa-hgaw village in Bilin township, Thaton District, Karen State. (Source: KIC)

On 12 October 2001, column commander Maung Maung Aung from SPDC LIB 7, came to Kyaw-kay-khee village, Thaton District, Karen State and extorted 2 chickens, 3 bottles of liquor, one package of candles, half a Viss of sugar and 3 pots of fermented brew from the villagers. (Source: KIC)

On 19 October 2001, a unit of DKBA came to Toe-teh-khee village, Thaton District, Karen State, and shot at the house of villager Saw Pah Maung but the family was able to escape without any casualities. (Source: KIC)

In a field report on the Situation of the villagers in the Nyaunglebin District from 1/6/2000 to 31/5/2001, KORD reported the following:

“There are 3 townships in Nyaunglebin district: Kyauk Kyi, Mon and Shwe Kyin,and three regions: mountainous, the area between plain land and the mountains (called the sloping area) and plain land area. Villagers living in the mountainous region earn their living by cultivating paddy using slash and burn agriculture. A few of them also cultivate paddy using the wet farming system. The majority of villagers living in the plain land area and the sloping area earn their living by cultivating paddy using the wet farming system. Some have other sources of livlihood, such as small trading businesses, cutting bamboo and selling it, panning for gold powder, planting and growing betel leaf/ betel nut fruits, and growing other crops to sell such as sugar cane, tobacco, water melon and other vegetables. Due to constant SPDC activity in these areas since the middle of 2000, villagers have faced many difficulties. Houses, villages, plantations of paddy and other crops have all been destroyed by SPDC action. Moreover, to avoid the SPDC troops villagers have had to constantly flee from place to place again and again throughout the year. There they live in constant worry and fear, facing shortages of food, medicine, schooling for their children, etc. Many villagers living in the mountainous regions have had to leave their own land and flee to refugee camps.

As for the villagers living in the plain land and the sloping land they have had to face killing, forced portering, extortion, relocation, and torture by SPDC troops. In addition they have to pay different kinds of taxes, contribute labor and give food to the military base in the front line area. From June 2000 to June 2001 local people report that 47,229,868 kyats were taken from the villagers by the SPDC. In addition, 121 rice barns, 879 baskets of paddy, and 2409 tins of rice were either eaten or destroyed by SPDC troops. Many domestic animals and other household goods were also taken.

In order to wipe out KNU and KNLA resistance activities the SPDC sent many battalions under the control of division (66) to the area, including troops from Sa Ka Kah (3) military control center No. (3) and No. (10). As of June 2001 the SPDC has increased many battalions under the control of No. (44) division. These front line troops have largely ceased from burning and destroying villages, paddy plantations, paddy and rice, but they continue to confiscate food and any other belongings of the villagers. But instead of destroying paddy or villages the troops have used new tactics, such as setting up temporary camps near plantations or villages so that villagers are not able to continue staying close to their plantations and are not able to work in their fields. The troops usually choose to camp near the fields when it is time to clear the land, cut down the trees for new paddy plantations, cut and clear the weeds in the plantations, and at harvest time.

- No. (33) division controls troop tactical strategy command No. (333), commander col: Tin Hla controls battalion LIB - 120 / 76/ 96.

LIB - 120, commander - Major Kyaw Than Htun.

IB - 76 battalion commander, Major Kyaw Win 4 columns are under the two battalions -

DKBA brigade No. (333), commander officer Pah Bi also controlls two battalions. Tha Ka Hsa Pa officer Pah Say Paw.

IB - 7, column No.(1), column commander officer San Myint. No. (2) column, commander Main Oo.

IB - 26, column No. (1), commander Major Khin Maung Cho. Column No.(2), commander major Kyaw Zwa.

IB - 26, commander officer Htun Shwe (Saw Tay Der base camp).

IB - 39, column No. (1), commander major Aung Soe/ intelligent officer Kyaw Khaing.

IB -38, commander major Khin Htun.

LIB - 349/ 59/ 60 and guerilla troops, commander officer Tin Hla.

Military control center - 10 and it under their control - tactical strategy command No.(3) and under them battalions - LIB -368/ 362.

LIB - 362 - battalion commander Col: Khin Maung, second commander lieutenant Col: Kyaw Main Oo, Column (1) commander lieutenant Col Khin Myint.

LIB - 368 - battalion commander lieutenant Col: Myo Hla, second battalion commander major Soe Than Aung, Column (1) commander lieutenant Col: HLaing Myo Aung, Column (2) commander major Kyaw Zan Oo, Company (1) commander captain Min Min Zaw, Company (2) commander lieutenant Col: Min Ko.
( Source: KORD)

On 10 February 2001, Maw Kheh Tha Per Kho village in Mon Township was asked to provide 50 visses of pork to the soldiers of IB-26 for curry. Again on 13 Feb,2001, IB-26, column No. 1 and 2 asked the Maw Kheh Thar Per Kho to provide15 visses of pork and 3 visses of chickens for their soldiers. (Source: KORD)

Since March 1 2001, SPDC troop LIB-13 under control of No. 33 military division has entered the Doo Pa Leh, Htee Blah and Hsaw Oh Hta village tracts in Shwe Kyin township and caused destruction. During their activity in the area they burnt down 7 barns with paddy inside, including: (1) Saw Pah Heh’s, containing 130 baskets of paddy (2) Saw Maw Doo’s, 70 baskets of paddy (3) Saw Hso Gay Heh’s, 30 baskets (4) Naw Soe Yu’s, 40 baskets (5) Saw Maw Per’s, 10 baskets (6) Saw Day Bu’s, 40 baskets (7) and Naw Eh Gay’, was containing 50 baskets of paddy. Therefore a total of 370 baskets of paddy from 7 households were burnt down. The SPDC troop also took 50 tins of white rice that the villagers were hiding, and burned 11 new paddy fields. (Source: KORD)

On 7 March 2001, SPDC’s troops which operating in Htee-blah and Doo Par Leh areas burnt down seven paddy barns of the villagers in Htee-blaha and Doo Par Leh village. The barn owners were; (1) Saw Pah Wah, a barn with 30 baskets of paddy, (2) Saw Maung Du, a barn with 70 baskets of paddy; (3) Saw Hso Heh, a barn with 30 baskets of paddy; (4) Naw Hsa Yu, a barn with 40 baskets of paddy, (5) Saw Day Bu, a barn with 40 baskets of paddy; (6) Naw Eh Hgay, a barn with 50 baskets of paddy, and (7) Saw Maung Thein, a barn with 10 baskets of paddy. (Source: CIDKP)

On 17 March 2001, SPDC troops burnt and destroyed 13 villagers’ ricefields. The ricefields belong to a group of villagers who are hiding in the jungle in Kler Lwee Htoo District. They also looted the villagers’ belongings, estimated to be worth 350,000 Kyat. (Source: CIDKP)

On 1st April 2001, SPDC’s troops from IB 73, demanded 5 bullock carts and 50 villagers from Ma-lar-daw village to carry military supplies to Saw-tay-doe village. (Source: CIDKP)

On 10 April 2001, the SPDC IB- 96 company (2) second commander Win Myint Thein extorted K. 15,000 from the villagers from 3 villages of Blay Blaw Soe, Mae Pri Hta and Htee Pa Doh in Shwe Kyin township. (Source: KORD)

On 19 May 2001, the SPDC troop LIB-440 ordered 6 villages in Mee Taing Daw village group, Mon Township, to each provide K. 198,000 for lumber, 3000 thatches for roofing, 10 cubic foot of sand, 440 bamboos (big), 16 nos. of 10 square foot of wall of bamboo matting. Villagers were told to bring all those things at Ywa Kan Lan, where they would be used to construct the battalion head quarters. Officer in-charge for the construction was a division intelligence officer, G-1 Min Nyunt. Following this, the same battalion LIB-440, officer Mya Htway ordered villages in the T’kot Bwa village tract to provide the following: 667 bamboos (big), 50 nos of 10 square foot of wall of bamboo, 5000 thatches for roofing, 34 nos of logs of 10 foot length, 34 nos of logs of 14 foot, 34 nos of logs about 10 tans, 13 piles of 10 square foot of sand, 10 square of stone, 14167 bricks. (Source: KORD)

On 26 May 2001, LIB-11 entered Mae Ka Ti village, Shwe Kyin Township and destroyed a primary school building. On 9 June, this troop arrived in Blay Blaw Kyoe and began searching for villagers. Because of the continuing SPDC activity, the villagers had flee in order to avoid the SPDC’s soldiers. Now there are 500 villagers from 90 families who are short of food. At the same time villagers from Lo Khee village tract are facing food shortages as well. (Source: KORD)

On 9 June 2001, some 20 troops of DKBA, led by Maung Ni, Eh Kaw Htoo and Bay Pauk came into Ta-na-khee area, Mon township and extorted 3 pots, 4 machetes and a basket of rice from a paddy field hut owned by villager Naw Ku Htoo Pa. (Source: KIC)

On 9 June 2001, SPDC troops came to Blay-blaw-daw village, Shwe-gyin township, Nyaunglebin District, Karen State and extorted from villagers (1) Ba Soe, 2 baskets of seed paddy, (2) Ba Aye, 2 baskets of seed paddy, (3) Maung Nu, 2 baskets of seed paddy and (4) Min Zaw, 1 basket of seed paddy. (Source: KIC)

On 22 June 2001, troops from SPDC IB 73 ordered Ma-lar-daw village, Nyaung-lay-bin District, Karen State to take 30 sacks of rice from Ter-ler-day villagers which 15 of the rice sacks would be used as the food for the army and the remaining 15 sacks were ordered to the villagers to be sold away. (Source: KIC)

From July 6, 2001 and as of October 11, 2001, the time of this report, troops from SPDC LIB 440 monthly demanded 7,500 Kyat from each ward of Htee-toe-lo village, 198,500 Kyat from Pauk-pei-doe village, 100,000 Kyat from Aung-cha-thar village and 5,000 Kyat from Myo-neh-chaung-kyi village, Nyaunglebin District, Karen State, to construct a military camp. They also demanded 2,000 Kyat from Htee-toe-lo village, 10,200 Kyat from Myo-neh-chaung-kyi village and 850 Kyat from Kyauk-daung-mwe village as runner fees, each month, and 10,200 Kyat per month from Kyauk-daung-mwe village, to pay a salary of 600 Kyat to each member of the anti-insurgent unit. The troops instructed the villagers to hand in the money they demanded monthly to U Aung Pay. These same troops also ordered the villagers to give a bicycle, and 1,000 Kyats each month, to Me-daing-daw camp; 30,000 Kyat to SPDC troops based in Mone camp; 5,000 Kyat to the Mone police unit; 5,000 Kyat to Mone Forest Department; and 8,000 Kyat to department heads U Kyin Maung and U Kyi Khin, and military intelligence man, Zaw Min of Kyauk-kyi town. (Source: KIC)

On 23 September 2001, battalion commander Win Bo Shein of SPDC IB 60 and his troops combined with troops from DKBA led by Maung Ni came into Ler-kla village, Nyaunglebin District, Karen State and shot and wounded villager Saw Moo Kyaw Hai, without reason. (Source: KIC)

On 25 September 2001, at 0600 hours, troops from SPDC LIB 440 came to Eh-thet-soe place and shot at the area and then looted a gun (muzzle loader), a machete, 2 dinner plates and a male sarong from Ler-klah villager, Saw Maung Kyaw. (Source: KIC)

On 9 October 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 351 led by battalion commander Than Aung came to Ler-kla, Saw-kha-doe and Htee-ler-baw-hta villages, Nyaunglebin District, Karen State and shot at villagers without reason. (Source: KIC)

On 18 October 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 42, column 2 came to Htee-day-lay-kho village, Nyaunglebin District, Karen State and shot at 7 families in the village. These were the families of (1) Naw Eh Bi, (2) Khin Maung Win, (3) Ma Hnin New, (4) Naw Plaw, (5) Saw Kah Gyi, (6) Naw Wah Htoo and (7) Naw Bi Kha. Moreover, the troops looted from villagers a total of 16 pots, 24 plates, 26 spoons, 23 blankets, 7 mosquito nets and 2 cassette players. (Source: KIC)

KORD reported on 25 June 2001, that the following troops were operating in Pa-pun District: The “Ya Ta Ka, Sa Ba Ha (1)” the south eastern command, military strategy center No (1) based in Pa-pun town and under its control (5) battalions- LIB, No 104 / 340 /434 and IB-19. There are also 3 other battalions directly controlled by the “South Eastern Command,” these are LIB-38, and IB-27 / 63.

The name of the commander of No-(1) military strategy Center at that time was Khin Maung Hla and the names of the commanders of the above mentioned battalions at that time were as follow:

LIB -104, commander -Aung Htun.

LIB- 341, commander - Myint tin.

LIB - 349, commander -Myo Min.

LIB - 434, commander -unknown.

LIB - 19, commander -unknown.

LIB - 38, commander -Ba Lin .

LIB - 27 , commander -Aung Myint.

LIB - 63, commander -Thain Htun

On 10 January 2001, SPDC troop LIB- 340, officer Aung Htun Win returned from the front line, entered Kyokhoder village and seized 2 tins of white rice, 2 chickens and one saw. He also took 2 villagers back up to Kawbu, who were later able to escape. (Source: KORD)

On 6 February 2001, six soldiers of SPDC, IB-81, based in Kyaw T’lay Kho entered the market place at Htee P’na Khee and arrested an Indian villager, Kan Keh and forced him to pay 38,000 kyats as a fine. More over they also took from him 2 watches, 1 torch lighter and some food. The same soldiers then demanded that a villager from Mae T’moo village pay 30,000 kyats as a tax for his 3 pairs of cattle. (Source: KORD)

On 6 February 2001, the SPDC, Division-22, LIB-210 led by the battalion commander Myo Min Htun, based in Poung Yay Bu, Sat Kon entered Kan Galay village and shot and ate up 4 goats and burnt down 4 houses of the Indian villagers and forced the owners to relocate to Poung Yay Bu village. (Source: KORD)

On 20 March 2001, troops from SPDC’s LIB 20, led by battalion commander Aung Khaing, came to Ya-ke-kee, Maw-ko, Na-ko-kee and Ka-wa-kee villages and demanded 195,427 Kyats, 79 baskets of rice, 478 chickens and 4 ploughs from the villagers. On the same day, the troops fired on the villagers. Three villagers from Ka-wa-kee and Ya-ke-kee were wounded. They were Saw Pah Pleeh, male, 48 yrs., Saw Kyaw Min, male, 25 yrs. and Saw Maung Thu, male, 35 yrs. (Source: CIDKP)

On 22 March 2001, one column of the SPDC troop LIB (341) entered Bu Tho township area, Kaw Pu village tract, Kyaw Nyo Hla village, and destroyed houses in village by pulling them down. They also shot and ate up pigs, chickens, and ducks and burnt down 2 rice barns that contained 720 baskets of paddy rice. (Source:KORD)

On 24 March 2001, troops from LIB 29, led by battalion commander Aung Khaing shot and wounded a villager named Saw Klo Wah, male, 45 yrs., from Ka-wa-kee village (Source: CIDKP)

On 14 April 2001, SPDC troops under the command of Htain Lin, and under the control of (Na Ta Ka) South West Military Command, combined with the DKBA troop, led by officers Baya, Pah Hsi and Kyaw Khaing entered Mae Nyo Hta village in Mae Nyo Hta village tract of Bu-tho township, and shot and ate domestic animals such as pigs, chickens, and ducks and then slept in village. The next day these troops proceeded to Bo Ler village, shot dead a Bo Ler villager they found on the way, namely Saw Be Heh, age (50) and also shot at another villager, son of Saw Be Heh, age (19) who was wounded. Then they entered Bo Ler village, shot and ate up pigs and chickens belonging to the villagers. In addition, these troops took and ate all the white rice they found in houses and then destroyed all the remaining rice and paddy they could not carry with them, by pouring it down on the ground. On the same day these troops then proceeded to Khaw Klah village, where they proceeded to do the same thing, shooting and and eating up pigs and chickens. Moreover, the troop also destroyed white rice and paddy rice they found in houses by burning the rice together with the houses. They also burnt down paddy and rice barns they found in village. (Source: KORD)

On 17 April 2001, in the evening at about 6:30, an officer of the DKBA “ Neh Lo” and some of his soldiers entered Htee Baw Kho village and shot at a house, wounding 7 villagers, they were (1) Mu Nya, age 70 (2) Mu Hor (pregnant), age 31 (3) Hsway Toe, age 17 (4) Mu Pwah (pregnant), age 24 (5) Mu Pwah, age 41 (6) Kyaw Htun, age 58 (7) Maw Thain Aung, age 26. Among them Mu Hor was in the worst condition. (Source: KORD)

On 7 June 2001, acting battalion commander Aung Min Lwin of SPDC LIB - 111 summoned the Mae-waing village head in Pa-pun District, Karen State, to collect 210 tins of rice from his villagers. But the villagers were short of rice and the amount of rice demanded could not be collected. As a result the commanders fixed the price of the rice at 600 Kyats per tin, and collected money from the villagers instead of rice. The villagers were faced with a great problem and had to borrow money to give the army what they demanded. (Source: KIC)

On 16 June 2001, Bo Ba Yo from DKBA ordered each house in Mae-mwe-hta and Thwa-hta villages in Papun District, Karen State to provide him with 25 pieces of thatch while Kler-gi-kho and Tha-per-pah villagers had to provide him with 300 poles of giant bamboo and 200 posts of wooden poles. (Source: KIC)

On 17 June 2001 SPDC division 33, tactical strategy command (332), LIB (111) sent for the village head man of Mae Waingy and ordered him to collect 310 tins of rice from the Mae Waingy villagers. The village head man returned and instructed the villagers to gather the rice, but because they were facing shortages of food, the villagers could not fulfill the demand and the headman had to go back to inform the troops. Therefore instead of rice the battalion commander Aung Min Lwin re-instructed the villagers to provide money. Aung Min Lwin fixed the rate of payment at 600 kyats for 1 tin of rice. Most of villagers did not have enough money and had to borrow money to pay. (Source: KORD)

On August 1 2001, at about 4 am, SPDC troop IB (19) combined with 20 soldiers from the DKBA entered and fired at Kwee Tu villagers, as they ran to escape. After the villagers had run away, the troop looted all the money and belongings of the villagers, and destroyed houses and shops in the market place. (Source: KORD)

On 7 August 2001, about 6:00am, the SPDC local troop of IB (19) entered Toe Thay Der village and burnt down all the houses in the village. (Source: KORD)

On 18 August 2001, SPDC troop division 33 transported food rations from Belin to the front line camps in Mae Way (Mae Waing) area. While they were transporting their rations the soldiers did not allow the villagers from the surrounding villages to go to their paddy farms. Because they were unable to tend to their fields, many were destroyed by animals and overgrown with weeds. In addition the troop forced 30 villagers each day to carry the rice sacks up into the boats and down out of the boats. Most of the paddy farms in Wah Loh Klo and Hsaw Mi Hta villages were destroyed, including 13 paddy farms in Wah Loh Klo and 19 in Mae Way. (Source: KORD)

On 30 September 2001, Thein Zaw from SPDC IB 19 came to Saw-kee village, Pa-pun District, Karen State and looted 3 baskets of rice, a pig, 4 machetes, an axe, 200 Baht, 500 Kyat, 3 Viss of cardamom seed, 3 bags, 3 chickens, a long knife and 300 tablets of medicine from the villagers. (Source: KIC)

Karen State has some high-yield paddy growing land in townships along main rivers such as Gaing River, Zami river and Attaran River. In Karen State, there are 7 townships in the 2 Districts of Papun and Pa-an, and all townships have paddy growing areas. In some townships, such as Kya-Inn-Seikyi, Myawaddy and Kawkreik townships have both lowland and highland paddy growing farms. Currently the SPDC has control of the lowland area and the Karen State PDC authorities have forced the lowland farmers in all township areas to sell their paddy to the government. In Karen State, the authorities planned to buy about 1.5 million baskets of paddy from farmers at price far below market rates. (Source: HURFOM)

In Kya-Inn-Seikyi Township of Karen State, the soil is not very fertile and the Township authorities have been asked to collect 10 baskets of paddy per acre at low price from farmers. In this township, the authorities force the farmers to sell about 150, 000 baskets of paddy total, and this includes 20, 000 baskets of paddy from each tract. Village tract headmen have to force farmers to sell their paddy in designated paddy buying centers. (Source: HURFOM)

The SPDC has also organized a “Veteran tatmadaw Members Association”, and has allowed this organization to collect funds as they liked. Thus the Veteran Tatmawdaw Members Association has authority to order Township and Village PDC authorities to collect funds on behalf of them. In February, 2001, members of this organization went to Kawkareik township, Karen State and ordered headmen from 8 villages to collect fund. They ordered headmen from Kanni village to collect 45, 000 Kyat, Karit village to collect 30, 000 Kyat, Thayettaw village to collect 45, 000 Kyat, Kaw-lyan village to collect 45, 000 Kyat, Kaw-go village to collect 45, 000 Kyat, Kaw-bein village to collect 45, 000 Kyat, Minywa village to collect 45, 000 Kyat and Kaw-pauk village to collect 45, 000 Kyat respectively. Civilians are forced to provide funds for army and veteran tatmadaw members, because the SPDC can not pay for their military commands, battalions’ and organization’s expenses. (Source:HURFOM)

From February to April 2001, Kya Inn Seikyi Township PDC authorities collected various funds from local civilians throughout the whole township area. Accoring to the orders from village and village tract leaders, these funds were used for their office expenses and other required expenses for celebrating important occasions. In February 2001, the Karen State PDC authorities requested that all townships provide funds to build a hospital in Pa-an city. The State PDC authorities sent an order to Kya-Inn Seikyi township, demanding 200,000 Kyat from the township and also demanding that the headmen in the town quarters and villages provide 2,000- 5,000 Kyat for each town quarter/village. The amount demanded varied, depending on the population in each town quarter or a village. The deadline for payment was February 28, and the authorities ordered the headmen not to fail to pay the set amount.

In March 2001, with a plan to hold “56th Anniversary of Armed Force (Tatmadaw) Day”, the most important day for SPDC, the township PDC authorities also collected funds from the civilians by forcing them to buy lottery tickets, at 1,000 Kyat per sheet. The authorities receive about 1 million kyats total from the civilians through selling these tickets. In April, when the traditional New Year Celebration was held, the authorities collected money from the civilians to pay for a dancing group to travel from Rangoon to the township. An order was sent from theTownship authorities to all village headmen, demanding 2,000-5,000 Kyats from each town quarter or village. From this fund collection, the authorities received about 200,000 Kyat total. In March alone, the authorities requested funds twice for the Tatmadaw Day celebration and additional expenses for Songkaram festival. In order to be able to give the set amount on the required date, the headmen forced the civilians to give them money. Some corrupt headmen collected more funds than required. Because of this fund collection, some villages had to pay up to 50,000 kyat within a one-month period. ( Source: HURFOM)

On 20 February 2001, SPDC IB No. (8) company commander Soe Aung forced the villagers from Shwe Yaw Pya village tract to pay porter fees. Each family had to pay K. 100 every month. Sergeant major Tin Soe from IB troop 8 ordered the Kyat Thraw villagers to send 1 person to stay with them in their camp to cut fire wood for them. (Source: KIC)

On 7 April 2001, the DKBA brigade (999) headed by Pah Ber Khar and his followers entered Hlaing Bweh township area, forcing villagers from 3 villages of Mor Taw Kyoe village, Klaw Kyaw village and Paw Ta Ka Kyoe village in Naung Taing village tract to Pay K.1700 for a fine, accusing the villagers of communicating and supporting KNU. The amount breakdown follows. K. 7000 was for Maw Taw Kyoe, K.5000 for Klaw Kyaw village and K.5000 for Paw Ta Ka Kyoe.

On 8 April 2001 the same troop and commander of DKBA (999) Pah Ber Khar entered another area of Win Sein township, in Ka Dah village, giving the same accusation to the villagers that they have been communicating and supporting KNU and extorted K.30,000. He had also threatened the villagers that if they were not able to pay the money they would have to leave their village. (Source: KORD)

On 20 April 2001 DKBA brigade (999), battalion (1) officer Pah Chaw ordered villagers from the villages in Nweh Pa Nya and Htee Pah Reh village tracts in Hlaing Bweh township to give them K. 30,000. When the villagers refused to pay the amount demanded, the commander Pah Chaw sent his body guard, an officer named Pah No and his soldiers to go to those villages and handle this case. When Pah No and his soldiers got there they ordered the villagers to pay double amount as a punishment. If they refused again to pay, the DKBA said they would burn down all villages mentioned below. Because of this, the villagers had to pay the following amounts:

(1) P’ Tu Klaw Plaw village -K. 60,000

(2) Plaw Nyar Thee village -K. 60,000

(3) Nya P’tay Khee villag -K. 60,000

(4) Pee Tu Hta village -K. 60,000

(5) Htee Mo Hta village -K. 60,000

(6) Kwee Baw village -K. 60,000

- K. 360,000

(1) Htee Pah Reh village -K. 60,000

(2) Khaw Thu Khee village -K. 60,000

(3) Htee Mo Kheee village -K. 60,000

(4) Wah Mi Kla village -K. 60,000

-K 240,000

Total (10 villages in 2 village tracts) = K. 600,000 (Source: KORD)

On 24 April 2001, officer Than Nyaing from LIB-106, under control of No-77 Division extorted money from the villagers from Htok Klaw Hta, Lay Kaw Hti, Htee Pha Doh Khee and Kot Poe Hta villages. They asked for K. 5000 and 1 duck from Htok Klaw Hta, K. 2500 and 1 chicken from Lay Kaw Hti, K. 5000 from Htee Pha Doh Khee and K. 5000 from Kot Poe Hta villages and said that these were for the porter fees. (Source: KIC)

On 25 April 2001, a column of the SPDC, division (66), LIB (6), led by battalion commander Aug Soe Win found a Si Pa Day Khee villager, named Saw De To Poe, between T’ ri Poe Kwee and Si Pah Day Khee villages and looted all of his money , a total of K. 115,500. More over, the same troop took 2 cooking pots, 2 choppers, 2 blankets, 2 longyies, 2 shirts and 1 tin of rice from Naw Hser Poe of T’ri Poe Kwee village. (Source: KIC)

In May 2001, IB 231 soldiers from the Ywarthit Gone camp on hill number point 350 demanded that villagers from Ywarthit Gone, Angalone and Tatar Gu villages give them betel nut plants, coconut plants and durian plants. Each family from those villages had to give 10 plants. If a village failed to send the full quota of plants, the IB 321 soldiers arrested villagers when they went to Kawkareik and asked the village for a huge amount of ransom for its villagers’ release. The camp has about 10-20 soldiers and they have demanded that villages nearby send one person a day to carry water for them and another person to serve as a messenger. The IB 231 has also announced that if the KNLA (Karen National Liberation Army) attacks the camp, several villages in the area will be burnt down. The IB 231 has been demanding each village under its control give 3-4 baskets of rice (a basket weighs 33 kgs) every month. Chicken, vegetables and other supplies were also demanded. (Source: FTUB)

On 2 July 2001, the SPDC troop from LIB-20 of division-77 entered Thu Ka Bee village and shot at the villagers there. After the villagers ran away the troop took 4 baskets of rice, 4 pots, 12 spoons, 3 choppers, 3 woman garments, 2 man garments of Naw Bah Ywa Moo, 5500 kyats, 2 long pants, 1 shirt, 2 chickens of Saw Bu Doh, 3 pots, 18 spoons, 2 choppers, 4 woman garments, 1 pair of woman earring, 4000 kyats, 5 baskets of rice, 3 ducks, 3 chickens, 14 plates of Naw Way Mo.

On 3 July 2001 the SPDC LIB-101 led by the battalion commander Zaw Naing Oo combined with the DKBA Pah Ni Tho arrived at the hut of a ToTe Khee villager, Pah Ket Shee and shot at him. After this the combined troop went to the hut of paddy field of a To Te Khee villager Pah Tu Lu, found and shot at the villagers while they were working in their fields. Some villagers were able to escape but some were captured. Then the troop burnt down the paddy hut. At the same time the troop entered the village and looted animals and household goods from the villagers.
( Source: KIC)

On 3 September 2001, about 35 DKBA troops led by Tin Koe and Pah Beh came to Mae-taw-kee village. They ordered every one to remain in the village and searched the houses. On the same day, the troops came to Noh-ber-baw village and demanded chickens from the villagers. In addition, the troops took with them 6 villagers from Noh-ber-baw, 6 villagers from Mae-taw-kee and 6 villagers from Taw-klaw-kee. (Source:KIC)

On 6 September 2001, troops from column 2 of SPDC LIB 106 came to Toe-the-kee village and shot at the villagers staying in the farm huts. The soldiers then looted 4 chickens and 2 Pyi of rice from villager Saw Pah Tu Lu. (Source: KIC)

From September 27, 2001 to October 1, 2001, a column from LIB 108, led by battalion commander Sein Htun Hla came to Be-ta-ka village, Pa-an District, Karen State and demanded 37 chickens, 14 ducks, a goat, a dog, 4 baskets of rice, 4 Viss of fish paste, 10 Viss of beetle nuts and 12 coconuts from the villagers. (Source: KIC)

On 4 January 2001, a troop from Burma Army’s Infantry Battalion 101, Column No.2 led by Column Commander Kyaw Thet Naing entered Taket village, in Tenasserim Township, Mergui District and shot a buffalo belonging to Saw Htun Pe for their meal. (Source: Unity )

On 5 January 2001 a group of Pye Thu Sit (people’s militia group supported by SPDC) led by Ye Win entered Taket village, in Tenasserim township, Mergui District and confiscated some cattle from Saw Hto Gay. After confiscating the cattle the militia leader demanded 30,000 kyat as compensation from the Saw Hto Gay. (Source: Unity)

On January 8, 2001 a group of soldiers led by 2nd Lieutenant Nyi Nyi Soe from Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion 402 who operated in Ka Mo Thwey area, in the east of Tavoy Town looted properties from villagers in Kler Pu (Nyaungdon). (Source: Unity)

On 8 January 2001, a combined column of IB 101 led by Aung Myint Oo and Kyaw Thet Naing burnt down 7 houses in Wah Thu Hta village, Taket village tract. (Source: Unity)

On 10 January 2001, an unidentified troop of Burmese soldiers entered Panamee (Duyinbinshaun) village, in Palaw township, Mergui district and slaughtered 5 buffaloes belong to Saw Aung Kyi. (Source: Unity)

On 18 January 2001 a troop of 12 men from Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion 402, led by Company Commander Kyaw Sein Oo destroyed a villager’s house in Sa Ta Lone village, Tavoy township, Tavoy District. (Source: Unity)

On July 15, 2001, a column of about 50 SPDC troops led by column commander Maj. Kyi Swun of Column 2, IB 17, under Costal Command, arrived at three Karen villages: ‘Ba-wa-pu-law, Htee-si-baw and Pa-lok-pa-taw’. This SPDC army column split into three groups and entered the villages simultaneously, shooting at and then seizing all of the villagers they saw. After the villagers fled, the soldiers broke into the houses of the escaped residents and looted all their home utensils. They also took the residents’ livestock, such as chickens, ducks, pigs, buffalo and cows for their food supplies. Then the SPDC army men burned down ten houses belonging to villagers whom they believed had links with KNU Battalion 11. Those residents who fled to safety when the SPDC entered the three villages, have to date been afraid to return. It has been reported that some of them have migrated to other villages in Tennimsarri townships where their relatives live, while others have escaped to the Thai Burmese border area. (Source: ABSDF)

On 2 September 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 556, came to Ka-wah village and demanded an ox worth 35,000 Kyat. (Source: KIC)

On 4 September 2001, Bo Khin Maung from SPDC IB 280, ordered villagers to dismantle all huts inside and outside the village, as the military intended to use the area for No.12 session of military training. If any huts were found still standing, the villagers were threatened that they would be put in jail for 2 years. To maintain the security of No.12 training session and IB 280, villagers from Pin-cha and Pa-saw-oo villagers were forced to serve as guards. (Source: KIC)

On 10 September 2001, Major Hla Htun from SPDC IB 280 and No.12 military training session demanded 10,000 seeds of betel nut worth 8,000 Kyat from villagers from Pa-saw-o village tract. (Source: KIC)

On 30 September 2001, troops from SPDC LIB 556, led by battalion commander Htun Than came to Ka-weh village, Mergui-Tavoy District, Karen State and beat up villagers: (1) Saw Bo (M-50), (2) Saw Poo (M-36), (3) Saw Po Nu (M-37), (4) Saw Leh Per (M-45), (5) Saw Per Ler (M-18), (6) Saw James (M-45), (7) Saw Hla Thein Gyi (M-45), (8) Saw Wah (M-20), (9) Saw Paw Koo (M-20). The army then demanded that they hand over one firearm. (Source: KIC)

On 26 February 2001, at 1:00 pm, the SPDC LIB - 549, column No. (1), Col: Kyi Lay and his 50 soldiers entered and burnt down 3 paddy plantations of the Mae Ta Ler villagers, in Kya-Inn township. The destroyed fields belonged to Naw Yo age (48), Pah Lah Hser, age (30), and Pah Li Leh, age (30). The soldiers also burnt down one paddy hut with 6 baskets of paddy and 2 tins of white rice inside.
(Source: KORD)

On 4 September 2001, at 6:30 am about 50 troops from SPDC IB 232, led by column commander Win Naing Oo, came into Tha-Byay-gon village, Win Yae township, Dooplaya District, Karen State and took ducks, sardines, ebilly, onions, cheroots, and 6,000 kyats from the villagers. In addition the troops also took two villagers, U Hla Myint, 45 and U Thaung Myint Po to serve as porters for 3 days. (Source: KIC)

On 15 September 2001, A unit of SPDC troops from LIB 549 Column (2) extorted 19,000 Kyat from Theh-Pya-Ehanny villager Saw Paw Htoo and 2 baskets of rice from other villagers in Kya-inn township, Dooplaya District, Karen State. In addition those troops also extorted 100,000 Kyat from a villager from Ye-Lai village, Win-Ye township, while he was returning from selling his cattle. (Source: KIC)

On 15 October 2001, a column of DKBA troops from battalion 999 and 907, under the control of SPDC clashed with KNLA troops. After this the troops burned down 7 paddy field huts and shot and killed 18 cattle near Htee-moo-hta village in Kaw-ka-reik Township, Dooplaya District, Karen State. Moreover, they also seized 11 Noh-po villagers, 4 Mae-ka-neh villagers and 6 Htee-moo-hta villagers as porters. (Source: KIC)

On August 14 2001, a Company of Burmese troops from LIB No. 531 robbed a group of cattle traders led by Maung Shwe from Honpone village, southern Shan State, between Mawthido and Htukweiso villages. The Burmese troops seized all cattle, food and the total of 120,000 Kyat in cash from the traders. (Source: KNAHR)

On 25 June 2001, the Burmese commander Maung Maung Htway of LIB No. 531, based at Loilin Lay village, Loikaw Township ordered villages in Loilin Lay and Hteesakah village tracts to provide them with 3 logs and one ready-made chair each. Maung Maung Htway said that he received an order from his higher-ranking commander ordering him to get these items from locals and send them to him in order to use at his office. (Source: KNAHR)

The Burmese troops of LIB No. 531 based at Loilin Lay, in cooperation with the KNPLF are currently re-establishing their military base after the recent attacks by Karenni guerrillas. As a result of this, the KNPLF commander (name unknown) demanded villages in Teelon, Hteesakah and Loilin Lay village tracts to supply them with 3 visses of 2" nail and 50 sheets of (108" long of 2" x 1") planks of wood without fail at the latest by July 10 2001. (Source: KNAHR)

In 23 August 2001, a new military base of the KNPLF (SPDC-backed cease-fire armed group) was established at Maw Thidoh village. At this base establishment, the KNPLF commander Seimonel ordered villages in Moe Soe village tract to supply building materials such as posts and bamboo which were needed for the base. Each household from villages in Daw Rawku village tract was also ordered by the same commander to provide 2 pieces (10-feet-long) of bamboo sheet. (Source: KNAHR)

On 13 September 2001, villagers living in Pasaung, Kwet Thit, Kemapyu and Namkin were ordered by the Burmese commander Maj. Aung Aung from IB No. 135, to provide them with 1250 wood post, 3200 bamboo poles and 60 bamboo sheets for a new military base in Pasaung. In addition, villagers were ordered to bake 25,000 bricks by the troops for the new base building. (Source: KNAHR)

In the second week of April 2001 IB No. 61, which is currently based in Ye Township of Mon State, confiscated land owned by Mon villagers, in the eastern part of Ye township area, in order to build a new military base. Approximately 27 villagers from Kyaungywa and Ah-dein villages lost land worth about 81.6 million Kyat, about 153 acres of land, including land with fruit trees. The army from IB No. 61 under orders from the Southeast Command also confiscated plantation lands between two brooks in the eastern part of the township. None of the landowners were given any compensation, and villagers who lost both land and valuable trees have no way to protest. The area is close to an NMSP controlled area, as one of the SPDC’s tactics is to move its troops and bases closer and closer to NMSP bases to discourage Mon troops from breaking the cease-fire agreement. As a rule, whenever the Southeast Command chooses a place to deploy a new military battalion, they never choose any site in the large area of uninhabited forestland in Mon State. Instead they choose land cultivated with rubber or fruit trees so that they can earn revenue from these crops. The Burmese Army since 1997 has instructed battalion commanders that it is their responsibility to seek funds for the own battalion and to support the soldiers. Because of this, whenever the army confiscates land, they chose valuable land with fruit and rubber trees in Mon State. (Source: HURFOM)

On 30 April 2001 HURFOM reported that in Burma, state monopoly policy allows the government to buy agricultural crops, including paddy, beans, sesame and rubber at low prices from the farmers throughout the country, and then sell these crops at a high price to foreign countries. In this way, the regime gets the profit from the crops, not the farmers. Every year farmers are forced to sell one third to one half of their crops to regime’s “Agricultural Products Trading Department” in their designated crop buying centers. The regime sets prices at 2 - 3 times less than the market price.

In Mon State, there are 10 townships total in two districts, Moulmein District and Thaton District, and most local inhabitants are paddy farmers. In Mon State alone, the SPDC authorities in Moulmein planned to buy about 3.5 millions baskets of paddy from the farmers in the 2000-2001 paddy buying season. This paddy season went from December 2000 until March 2001.

Traditionally, in farms in Mon State farmers use natural fertilizers, however because of increasing demands from the government for more crop production, now they are also forced to buy factory made fertilizers. As one farmer explained:

Currently farmers in Mon State, Karen State and Tenasserim Division have become heavily reliant on factory made fertilizers in order to produce enough crops to cover the amounts they’re forced to sell to the paddy buying centers and for their own needs. As government policies cause economic conditions to deteriorate, many young people in lower Burma have migrated to Thailand looking for better jobs. Every year, many thousands of people migrate into Thailand and seek work. The result of this migration is that the farmers in lower Burma now face a labour shortage and labour cost have become higher and higher. Although the authorities receive reports about the hardships facing farmers, they continue to force them to sell the set amount of paddy and other crops. If the farmers can not afford to provide the required amount, they can be arrested and detained in police stations until they promise to sell the set amount of paddy. Sometimes, when family heads are detained in cells, the authorities force the remaining family members to sell the paddy before they will release the prisoner. (Source: HURFOM)

Among the ten townships in Mon State, Mudon township has the largest paddy growing lands and most Mon ethnic farmers in this township are constantly forced to sell a set amount of paddy to the regime. There are a total of 88, 795 acres of land in Mudon township, about 30, 623 acres are used for 2- season paddy crops cultivation,which means paddy can be grown in rainy season and in dry season with water from a dam in the township. In this township, there are 4 town sections and 42 villages total. The township authorities have set up 12 paddy buying centers throughout the township area, each with a paddy buying committee. The managers of these committees are appointed by Township, village headmen and local militia leaders. The Agricultural Products Trade Department informs the paddy buying committee how many baskets of paddy from each village they need to buy. In Mudon township, because the lands have comparably good soil, the authorities are instructed to buy 15 baskets of paddy per acre from farmers. The authorities planned to buy about 1. 3 million baskets of paddy from this township area alone. Since December 2000, the authorities have attempted to buy paddy from all farmers in the township. Normally, after harvest, most farmers carry their paddy crops home to their villages. However, in this (April 2001) paddy buying season, township PDC authorities instructed village leaders to force residents to sell a quota of paddy at the designated buying center before returning to their village. In February 2001 the authorities paid only 350 Kyat per basket of paddy, while the market price was about 850 Kyat per basket.

In Thanbyuzayat Township, there are 4 town quarters and 38 villages total in its administrative area. In this township, the Agricultural Products Trade Department, has also set up 6 paddy-buying centers and appointed a manager for each center. By coordinating with local village headmen and militia troops, the center managers force the farmers to sell the set amount of paddy to the designated paddy-center. In this township, the authorities planned to buy about 500,000 baskets of paddy.

Chaungzon Township has good soil because it is situated on an island, west of Moulmein. In this township alone, the authorities tried to buy about 700, 000 baskets of paddy total. As in other areas, the township PDC authorities went to every village and instructed the village headmen to force the farmers to sell the set amount of paddy to designated paddy-buying centers. The last deadline of selling paddy was in January 2001. After this deadline, some farmers who had yet to sell their paddy to the government, were arrested and made to promise that they would sell their paddy to the authorities.

In this township, the authorities paid different prices for different types of paddy. In their paddy-buying center, their managers have bought Nga-sein (local name) paddy for 380 Kyat per basket, Ae-ma-hta paddy for 360 Kyat per basket, Me-done paddy for 350 Kyat per basket. However, the market prices for these sorts of paddy were between 800 and 900 Kyat per basket.

Kyaikmayaw Township, is situated far from the seacoast and has less paddy cultivation land than other townships in Mon State which are located on the ocean. Since December 2000, Township PDC authorities have attempted to buy about 348, 000 baskets of paddy in this township, by forcing farmers to sell their paddy at the designated paddy buying center. Initially, the authorities planned to buy the entire amount of paddy within December and January. However in the beginning of January 2001, the authorities could buy only 30% of their total requirement of paddy, leading them to try and force village headmen and farmers to sell paddy to designated paddy buying centers as quickly as possible. In addition, the authorities also forced teachers, police, and medical workers in villages to assist them in collecting paddy from farmers in villages. In an order to police stations and police officers dated on 15th January 2001, Township PDC General Secretary mentioned that “in 2000-2001 paddy buying season, although Kyaikmayaw planned to buy about 348,000 baskets of paddy, but until January 13, we could receive 129, 482 baskets of paddy, and so it was about 37.26% of the total. Therefore, our Township was recognized (by Mon State PDC) as a least paddy buying township among 10 township and we would like to request your cooperation with managers in paddy buying centers, concerned village headmen to get full amount of paddy from farmers as we planned.”

As is evident from this letter, Township PDC authorities also used the local police force to threaten farmers to sell their paddy . The authorities also wrote letters to civil servants in villages reminding them that it is their responsibility to encourage farmers to sell their paddy. Below is a translation of an order given to the civil servants of a village in Kyaikmayaw township.

——————————————

General Administration Department Kyaikmayaw Township - Kyaikmayaw Town

Letter No. 1/1 - 2/ Ye - 1

Date: January 9, 2001

To All government servants

——— Town Quarter/ Village Kyaikmayaw Township

Subject: To sell the set amount of paddy from Town Quarter/ Village

Reference: Letter from Mon State General Administration Department on December 27th December, Letter No. 5/2 - 4/ Ye 5.

1. As decided by Kyaikmayaw PDC, we planned to buy 348, 000 baskets of paddy from the whole township area, but we could buy only 105,137. 5 baskets until January 8, 2001, and so it was only 30.21% of the total required paddy.

2. From your village, although we planned to buy 8000 baskets of paddy, we received only 2059 baskets.

3. Therefore, to buy the remaining amount of paddy, you must meet with farmers and urge them to sell the set amount of paddy. You must put in your mind that paddy-buying activity is a very important work to implement. We also inform you to please come (to Township office) every Monday and report about your implementation and progress (of paddy buying activity).

Signed -

(on behalf of)

Township Chairman

———————————————

After sending this order, the authorities also instructed the concerned village headmen to send the remaining amount of paddy to the buying centers right away.

One Mon farmer reported that:

“According to instruction by Township authorities to Than-ga-laung village in township dated on January 15, 2001, that village had to sell about 8000 baskets of the remaining paddy from their village within two weeks. In the instruction, it mentioned that the village must sell and the center must get 3200 baskets of paddy on January 15 (40% of the total), 4800 baskets on January 20 (60% of the total), 6800 baskets of paddy on January 25 (85% of the total) and 8000 baskets on January 30 (100% of the total). At the below of the order, the authorities also forced the village chairman and other members to sign for promise that they would try to implement according to instruction.”

In this way, the village authorities in Kyaikmayaw township have forced the farmers through their village headmen to sell their all paddy before the end of January. Farmers who could not afford to ‘sell’ the set amount of paddy to the authorities, also had to sell their land, cattle, and other belongings in order to buy enough paddy to meet the required quota.

In Paung Township of Mon State, the authorities planned to buy about 800, 000 baskets of paddy because this township has very large paddy farms and the land and soil quality are quite good. Thus, the authorities instructed the farmers in this township area to sell paddy at a rate of 16 baskets of paddy per acre to designated paddy buying centers. At the beginning of December 2000, when the authorities started buying paddy in this township, the paddy price in the area at market was very low and so the authorities also reduced their buying price at the paddy buying center. In the market, the paddy price was about 600 Kyat per basket in December 2000, whereas it had formerly been 800-1000 Kyat per basket. The authorities paid 250 Kyat per basket. Although the farmers were not satisfied with this price, nobody dared to complain. If the farmers in this township area refused to sell paddy to government designated paddy buying centers, they were prohibited from husking their paddy. Normally in Mon State, whenever farmers needed to husk paddy to get rice for their own food or to sell, they have to ask permission from the village headman. Without permission, paddy-husking mills do not dare husk paddy for any farmers because it is against the Township administration regulations.
(Source: HURFOM)

From January to March, 2001, in the process of building a tarmac Kyakikmayaw - Kyunywa motor road, the authorities have conscripted forced labour and also collected a large amount of money from civilians in Kyaikmayaw township. In February and March, the authorities instructed all town and village PDC leaders to collect about 5000 Kyat per household from the 4880 households, which are in both towns and villages, close to the motor road. The authorities also stated that all funds had to be collected by May 2001. (Source: HURFOM)

In February 2001, some military battalions and members of the Tatmadaw (Burmese Army) Veterans Association have gotten funds by collecting money directly from civilians and also by collecting a betting tax from legal gambling in Mon State and Karen State. In the 1st and 2nd weeks of February, 2001, SPDC Navy battalion No. 37, which is based on an island in Chaung-zon township, ordered every village headman in the township to officially allow gambling. As there are currently about 30 gambling places in this area, the navy battalion is able to collect a betting tax of 2000 Kyat per day from each place, thus making a total of 60,000 Kyat per day. Actually, according to traditional and customary laws, gambling is illegal in Burma. However, the army and navy promote gambling in order to collect the betting tax from gamblers. (Source: HURFOM)

In February 2001, IB No. 24, which is based in Thaton township, Mon State, also ordered village headmen from 5 villages in Township including: Yinnyein-taung, Myout-kwin, Phu-ba, Ywa-tan-shay and Kyone-hor-kwin, to collect funds from farmers. The commander instructed the village headmen to collect 100 Kyat per acre of land from these villages. As there are about 17, 000 of paddy land in the area, the army received about 1.7 million Kyat for their battalion fund.
(Source: HURFOM)

The government claims to be improving Mon State, through various development projects, such as road construction, bridge construction, digging water canals and repairing roads. The reality however, is that the SPDC does not allocate any funds for most projects, but instead orders the township or village authorities to collect funds from local people and implement the projects in with their own labor. Currently there are two types of development projects in Mon State. The first are small scale projects such as building short roads, or a small bridge near a village, etc. The SPDC considers these ‘self-help’ programs and villagers are made to pay the full cost. The second type of project are infrastructure projects, such as building large bridges or constructing railways. For these types of projects, the SPDC has allocated some funds, but as these are usually inadequate, they also have to collect money from people throughout all of Mon State. The Mon State PDC has instructed all township authorities to implement self-help development programs, with at least two to three projects in each township. As a result of this order, most township authorities have planned to construct roads from town to village or from one village to another. There is no system or rules governing the collection of funds for these projects. (Source: HURFOM)

When township authorities planned to build a village library in Thabyu-chaung village, the village PDC collected 100 Kyat from each family every month. This fund collection has been occuring since October 2000, and has gone on for six months. The village has about 700 households and every month, the authorities get about 70,000 Kyat. (Source: HURFOM)

In the Balu Island where Chaung-zon township is located, there are many Mon villages and since 2000, the authorities have planned a project to build motor roads to connect them all. In order to implement this project, the Township PDC has continuously forced the village PDC authorities to collect funds from the local people. On February 10, 2001, a Township PDC authority, Lt. Col. Thaw Zin arrived in Mu-done village and met with the village chairman. Previously, he had instructed the village chairman to build a road from Mudone to Dawn-uu and so the commander asked the village chairman about the progress of the road construction. The chairman explained that it had been difficult to get funds from the villagers, so they could complete 5% of the total road construction. The commander was not satisfied with this report and replied that he did not want to hear about the village leader’s difficulties, but wanted to see the road construction completed. He further stated that if the collected funds were not enough, the chairman himself would have to pay for all costs. Then, on the same day, the commander went to Bo-net village and also asked the about the progress of the road construction quota for their village. The village leaders in Bo-net also explained to him that because the village was poor it had been difficult to get the set amount of funds as quickly as they had expected, and that they had only been able to implement less than 10% of road construction. The Commanders was angered by this and told them if they could not collect the set amount of funds from the villagers, the village leaders needed to pay instead.
(Source: HURFOM)

As there has been insurgent activity in many parts of Ye Township’s rural areas, the SPDC has put much emphasis on development projects that increase communications, and transportation. The Mon State PDC has been ordered to implement projects that support better communications but they have not been given any funds to do so by the central government. Therefore, the town and village PDC authorities have to collect a large amount of money from local people to fund these projects. At the beginning of 2001, Ye Township authorities continued their plans to build a 6 mile tarmac motor road, from Ye town to Azin village, a fishing port in the township. The construction of this road was started in 2000 and the authorities planned to build only 3000 feet every year, collecting funds from residents in three village tracts, Azin, Duya and An-din, which are close to motor road. Last year, the authorities collected 300,000 Kyat from each tract and in February 2001, they collected a further 500, 000 Kyat from the three village tracts. (Source: HURFOM)

Pegu Division stiuated in the northeastern part of Rangoon, is well know for its large paddy fields, and the area produces a lot of paddy and other crops. In Pegu Township, Thanat-pin Township and Wor Township, farmers are able to grow beans after the paddy harvest in November/December. Traditionally, the farmers in Pegu Division grow paddy at the beginning of rainy season in May/June like other farmers in many parts of lower Burma and then after the harvest, the farmers also grow different types of beans such as Pae-lun, Pae-ti, and Mat-pae, and harvest these two months later. Therefore, in Pegu Division the SPDC authorities have not only created paddy buying centers in every township to buy paddy from farmers, but they have also set up bean buying centers. When the authorities buy beans from the local farmers, the bean price is three times less than the market price, as is the price they pay for paddy bought from farmers. The authorities also bought nearly half of the bean crop from farmers. Normally, bean-growing farmers can produce about 5-6 baskets of beans from one acre of land, in Januray and February 2001 the authorities forced farmers to sell them 3 baskets of beans per acre in January and February, 2001. Designated bean buying centers were set up where the farmers had to sell their beans at 2200 Kyat per basket, while the market price was up to 4500-5000 Kyat per basket . The authorities order traders not buy any beans from farmers until the end of March. This is the deadline by which the famers have to sell the required amount of beans to the SPDC. If they have sold the required amount of beans, then the farmers are allowed to sell the remaining amount to private traders. Before this deadline, the authorities check every truck, along the Pegu-Rangoon motor road, and confiscate any beans they find. In December and January 2001, farmers in Pegu Division were forced to sell 12 baskets of paddy per acre to the paddy buying center. The authorities paid them only 300 Kyat per basket while the market price was about 650-700 Kyat per basket. (Source: HURFOM)

In late February and early March 2001, SPDC troops from Co. No.3 of Murng-Khark-based LIB328, stationed at a hilltop stronghold in Murng-Yarng township, forced several villages in the area to bring hundreds of bamboo and thousands of thatch-sheets to build houses for them. On February 26, troops, led by Lt. Htay Naing, came to Kho Sung, Wan Zaang and Pa Hai villages in Murng Luay tract, Murng-Yarng, and ordered the village headmen to provide bamboo to build the military camp. Together the 3 villages were ordered to bring 360 pieces of bamboo to the hilltop camp by March 2. On March 1, the same troops went to Ter Laad, Huay Khaa and Wan Lio villages in Murng Yarng tract, Murng-Yarng township, and ordered the village headmen to provide 3,500 sheets of weaved thatch for roofing at the military camp by March 6. Village headmen and leaders pleaded with the SPDC township authorities to help persuade the soldiers to reduce the amount to 600 thatch-sheets, but the township authorities dismissed them saying, “Don’t you understand. You are able to live peacefully only because of the Burmese army. Stop complaining and give them what they want, and when they want”. On March 3, the same troops summoned the village headmen of Pa Nung, Pa Mai and Waeng Laek villages, situated close to the foot of the hilltop camp, and ordered them to bring their villagers to build houses for the soldiers in the camp, starting from March 12. (Source: SHRF)

Extortion in Ta-khi-laek

On 4 March 2001, SPDC authorities in Ta-Khi-Laek issued an order to all the village and tract leaders in the township to collect food and money from the villagers and to give it to the soldiers by the following day. Each house had to provide 150 Baht for porter-fees, 2 packs of noodles and 2 eggs and the leaders had to take them to the SPDC township office. There have been 4-5 similar cases in Ta-Khi-Laek township since February 17 and villagers have been asked for 300-600 Baht in some cases. (Source: SHRF)

Since May 2001, SPDC authorities in Ta-Khi-Laek have issued an order to recruit 3 people in each village tract for forced labor. As the authorities do not accept non-Burmans, 100,000 Kyat for each required person must be paid instead. There are about 13-14 village tracts in Ta-Khi-Laek township which means a total of 2,200,000 Kyat had to be paid to the SPDC. (Source: SHRF)

Since June, SPDC military authorities in Mu-Se have forcibly conscripted civilian vehicles without pay. Whenever SPDC troops want to go somewhere or transport something in Mu-Se township, they almost always forcibly conscripted civilian mini-tractors, or sometimes civilian trucks, without any payment. On June 19, SPDC township police officers in Mu-Se exacted 11,000 pieces of bamboo from the villagers of Tong Khaan village. All the bamboo was transported free of charge by the villagers to the police station by the June 22 deadline.

1. Mini-tractors at Nawng Kham village have been conscripted 25 times

2. Mini-tractors at Ho Lawn village have been conscripted 37 times

3. Mini-tractors at Wan Hio village have been conscripted 45 times

4. Mini-tractors at a private drug rehabilitation centre have been conscripted 11 times

5. Lung Chit Nguay’s truck has been conscripted 21 times (Source: SHRF)

On 26 June 2001, people in Namkham, 129 miles north of Lashio, in northern Shan State, were forced to give exorbitant ‘donations’ to the local authorities in preparation for the visit of Burma’s No. 3 strongman, Gen. Khin Nyunt.Forced contributions were taken from shopkeepers at the following rates:

Those selling construction materials had to pay K 10,000 each;

Big shops had to pay K 8,000 each;

Small shops had to pay K 500 each

Shoe shops, had to pay K 3,000 each

The local authorities also requisitioned 300-pairs of Yinma brand white shoes for students who would participate in the reception with dances. “Even the students had to pay K 2,000 each,” said one shopkeeper. “You can be sure some of the loot will be lining their pockets. Voluntary contributions, they say. I’d say it’s daylight robbery.” Namkham’s market has more than 2,000 shops. Gen. Khin Nyunt was going there for the inauguration of the town’s first computer complex.
(Source: SHAN)

In early July 2001, SPDC authorities extorted money from the people in Ta-Khi-Laek township to buy goods from Thailand as presents to Gen. Maung Aye, the Vice Chairman of the SPDC, and his entourage, visiting Ta-Khi-Laek on an inspection tour. On July 8, after Gen. Maung Aye had completed his inspection, the local SPDC authorities presented him and his entourage with 2 truckloads of presents. The presents were not taken away immediately but were later sent after them, on July 12, in 2 civilian trucks forcibly conscripted by the police for free service. A few days before the visit of Gen. Maung Aye, SPDC authorities in Ta-Khi-Laek had issued an order to all the village and tract headmen and community leaders to collect the money. Each family was required to provide 300 Baht, which would have amounted to at least 300,000 Baht, in accordance with the estimated population of Ta-Khi-Laek. (Source: SHRF)

Since early August 2001, SPDC troops from the battalions based in Murng-Ton, IB 65, IB 225, IB 277 and LIB 519, have been searching houses at night and extorting 500 kyat for each missing member of each household in Murng-Ton township. Groups of 20-30 SPDC troops from the said battalions searched the houses of the local people in their respective areas of control, at least once every 3 nights, starting from 10:00 p.m. until the early morning of the next day. Their stated reason for searching was to check if there were any unreported guests secretly staying overnight without permission from the authorities. However, if there were no guests, the troops checked the members of the households and fined 500 Kyat for each missing member. There is no apparent reason for extorting money for missing family members. (Source: SHRF)

On 6 August 2001,Tiya, 36, a shan refugee who had recently arrived in Thailand from a village in Mongkerng township, 108 miles northeast of Taunggyi, reported that a meeting was held at the LIB 514 battalion post on 1 June. At this meeting Lt.-Col. Myint Maung, Commander, of LIB 515 from Laikha informed the village and tract headmen that in accordance with orders from his superiors, tax would be levied on the following domestic livestock:

K. 300 for each buffalo, per year

K. 200 for each cow, per year

K. 100 for each goat, per year

K. 50 for each pig, per month

The Commander also informed them that beginning in 2002, rice growers would be forced to sell 24 baskets of unhulled Khao-zao rice, per acre of land they owned, to the government at the rate of K. 300 per basket. As a result, hundreds had decided to leave their homeland and come to Thailand because, as Tiya said, “the market price of unhulled Khao-zao is K. 3,500-3,000 per lang and those of us who are poor will never be able to afford it.” N.B. 1 lang equals 4 baskets (Source: SHAN)

On 16 August, 2001, the SPDC police force in Murng-Khark forced the Akha villagers of Wan Kui, Huay Tu and Paang Kaw villages in Nam Yaang Long tract, Murng-Kark township, to provide 37 viss of chickens for entertaining a senior police officer and his team from Kaeng-Tung who would be visiting Murng-Khark on an inspection tour. The villagers had to divide the responsibility in accordance with the sizes of their villages and find the needed amount of chickens and take them to the police station in Murng-Khark on the morning of August 17, 2001. Wan Kui village had to provide 7 viss of chicken; Huay Tu village 13 viss and Paang Kaw village 17 viss; altogether worth about 22,200 kyat, according to the local villagers.
(Source: SHRF)

On 9 September 2001, a patrol of SPDC troops from LIB333 extorted money for protection fees from the villagers of Nam Naang village in Nam Naang tract, Murng-Phyak township. On the day of the incident, a patrol of about 30 SPDC troops from LIB333 came to Nam Naang village, called up the village leaders and the commander of the troops said to them, “We heard that about 10 days ago Shan soldiers from SSA-E (Shan State Army - East) came to this village and you provided them with food and money. Was that true?”.

Before anyone could respond to the accusation, he continued, “If that was true, you have given food and money even to the Shan soldiers, and as we are government soldiers who are protecting you we surely deserve more, so you should at least collect money and help us cover the costs of our patrols, if not also food”.

When the village leaders explained that no Shan soldiers had ever come to their village and that they had never given anything to any Shan soldiers, the commander did not believe them but became angry and shouted at them, threatening to burn the market place if they did not comply with his demand. Nam Naang village is the main village in Nam Naang tract where a market is held every 5 days. The market place is big and crowded with open thatched buildings which could easily burn, and a fire could easily spread to the other 50-60 houses in the village. Sensing the danger that lay ahead, the villagers collected money among themselves, 300 Kyat from each house, as soon as possible and gave it to the SPDC troops, altogether giving a total of 16,000 Kyat. (Source:SHRF)

On 10 September 2001, a company of SPDC troops from Murng-Phyak-based LIB360 extorted money as protection fees from the villagers of Mawk Zali village in Mae Ken tract, Murng-Ton township. On that day, about 50 SPDC troops of Co. No.2 from Murng-Phyak-based LIB360, led by commander Min Zaw, that were temporarily stationed at Naa Kawng Mu village in Murng-Ton township came to Mawk Zali village and asked the villagers if any Shan soldiers had come to the village. When the villagers said no, the troops camped in the village for the night. The next morning, the commander of the SPDC troops called up the village leader and said, “We are soldiers who have to come and protect you. You are able to live safely and peacefully only because we are going around all the time protecting you day and night, regardless of sun and rain. Therefore you people should understand our hardship in trying to protect you and should help us in return by providing us with 30,000 Kyat of money per month to buy food”.

The villagers could not refuse and had to collect among the 25 houses in the village, from 700 to 1,500 Kyat per house in accordance with their economic status, and handed 28,500 Kyat to the SPDC commander. The commander then said that as long as their duty was to be in the area, the villagers would have to provide the money once a month. (Source:SHRF)

On 4 October 2001, SPDC troops of LIB360 issued an order requiring the people in 3 village tracts — Pung Pa Khem, Murng Haang and Mae Ken village tracts — to provide money and chickens for a military farm, in Murng-Ton township. The commander of LIB 360 said in the order that he intended to buy chicken and let his soldiers breed and raise them so that they would not have to bother the people for chickens in the future, and he would like the people in the area help him with the money needed to do that. Each village tract was to hand in 20,000 Kyat of money not later than October 15th. Any village tract that did not pay in time or paid less than the amount demanded would have to pay a fine of 40,000 Kyat. The villagers managed to pay the demanded 60,000 Kyat before the deadline by collecting 50 to 350 Kyat from each house in their village tracts.

On October 17th, the commander of LIB360 again issued an order requiring the people of the same village tracts to provide 50 chickens each, not later than 25.10.01. Because many villagers did not have any chickens, they had to collect money and bought the needed chickens for the military. (Source: SHRF)

On 9 October 2001, SPDC troops from LIB322 extorted 20,000 kyat from several villages in Naa Naang and Nam Pawng village tracts in La-Sio township. On that day, a patrol of SPDC troops from LIB322 came to Naa Naang and Nam Pawng area and called a meeting of the village and village tract leaders in the area. The troops said that their maize growing project had yielded very poorly, causing the military to lose so heavily that they needed help from the people, and extorted 20,000 Kyat of money from each village in the area. (Source: SHRF)

Farmers forced to buy their paddy back

On 25 October 2001 villagers in a northern Shan State township were forced to purchase rice that they had been forced to sell earlier. Officials from Muse, opposite Ruili, Yunnan Province, told village headmen they were selling them back 300 baskets of paddy that was procured earlier on the order of the Northeast Regional Command in Lashio. The officials also threatened the headmen with imprisonment for non-compliance. “The joke was while they had paid us only K. 350 per basket during their forced purchase, we had to pay them K. 2,000 to get our rice back,” said the source. “The officials, as a result, cleared nearly K. 500,000 from us.”

The following is the list of the villages forced to buy back rice:

1. Manhai, 70 baskets

2. Nalong, 77 baskets

3. Tima, 52.5 baskets

4. Manzarng, 22 baskets

5. Jawngkoong, 35 baskets

6. Nawngwa Hsenghawm, 16 baskets

7. Nahok Nawngping, 16.5 basket

8. Koonghsa, 11 baskets (Source: SHAN)

On 27 December 2001, SPDC troops of Murng-Khark-based IB227 forced the villagers of Aa Khur village in Murng Nung tract, Murng-Khark township, to provide 160 pieces of big bamboo for military use. Aa Khur is a small village of 21 houses and the villagers are mostly dry farm rice growers with very little income. No one has rice fields or bamboo groves. The villagers have to buy bamboo from other villages for building their own houses because there are no wild bamboo groves in the area. The village headman of Aa Khur went to explain their difficulties to the SPDC township authorities in Murng-Khark town. But the township authorities said they did not dare to talk to the troops about that and persuaded the villagers to go to tell the soldiers themselves. Having no choice, the villagers went to the base of IB227 and asked them to reduce the amount of bamboo to 30 pieces because they would have to be bought from other villages. The commander of the troops, however, not only refused to reduce the amount but set a 7-day deadline threatening to increase the amount up to 200 pieces if it was not met. The Aa Khur villagers had to buy 160 pieces of bamboo at 250 Kyat per piece and transported them to the military base within the given time. It cost 40,000 Kyat in all, transport excluded, which was about 2,000 Kyat per house. (Source: SHRF)

Wa troops of UWSA, which has a ceasefire deal with the SPDC, have been confiscating and occupying the lands and property of the local people in Murng-Ton township, since their deployment in the area in late 2000. Wa troops from Pang Sang, their head quarters in northeastern Shan State, have been moved down to the southern town of Murng-Ton and deployed at several places such as Mawkzali village in Mae Ken tract, Naa Kawngmu in Murng-Harng tract and Huay Aw, Ta Kaang, Son Kuay and Nam Yum villages in Pung Pa Khem tract, with about 35-50 troops at each place. The Wa troops have been roaming their respective areas and openly taking vegetables from the local farms, in front of the farm owners who are mostly Shan, without asking or paying for them. When some farmers who only have a small amount of vegetables for their own consumption asked the Wa soldiers to spare them their food, the Wa soldiers generally threatened them with their guns, saying, “Don’t you see this?” In many places, Wa troops have occupied several houses while the owners were away and refused to let the owners enter their homes when they returned. Many farmers who had taken their families to work at their farms for a few days at a time, because they were too far to go on a daily basis, found their houses occupied by Wa troops when they returned. Some neighbours who tried to stop them by explaining that the owners were their relatives who would return in a few days were told by the Wa soldiers that they came on the orders of Gen. Khin Nyunt and that the villagers should go and tell him if they wanted them to leave. In several places, Wa soldiers have also confiscated acres of cultivated lands of the local people, including fruit orchards, coffee and sugarcane plantations and vegetable gardens. (Source: SHRF)

1. Villagers lost 20 houses

2. Zaai Saw and Naang Laao lost 7 acres of banana orchard

3. Zaai A-Li-Ya and Naang Num los 5 acres of pineapple orchard

4. Lung Kham and Pa Ku lost 4 acres of banana orchard

5. Zaai Za-Ling and Naang Leng lost 4 acres of mango orchard

6. Lung Su-Nan-Ta and Pa Ting lost 5 acres of coffee plantation

1. Villagers lost 3 houses

2. Zaai Wa-Ya-Ma lost 4-1/2 acres of sugarcane, mango and pineapple plantations

3. Zaai Thun Nae lost 3-1/2 acres of pineapple and banana orchard

4. Zaai Wi lost 3 acres of vegetable garden

Naa Pa Kaao village, Mae Ken tract:

1. Villagers lost 15 houses

2. Zaai Ka-Ling and Naang Kaeng lost 10 acres of banana and mango orchard

3. Lung Lu and Pa Hoi lost 5-1/2 acres of pineapple and banana orchard

4. Zaai Pan-Zit-Ta and Naang Khe lost 6-1/2 acres of banana, mango and tamarin orchard

5. Zaai Ma-La and Naang Seng lost 4 acres of vegetable garden

6. Zaai Lu and Naang Ing lost a cowshed big enough to house 60 cows

1. Villagers lost 3 houses

2. Lung Keng lost 5-1/2 acres of coffee plantation

3. Lung Phong and Pa Lu lost 3-1/2 acres of banana and sugarcane plantation

1. Villagers lost 2 houses

2. Zaai Wan-Na and Naang Khin lost 5-1/2 acres of banana orchard

3. Lung Kaw-Li and Pa Lu lost 8 acres of mango, banana and coffee plantation

On 1 January 2001, SPDC troops of LIB316 brought in members of the Land Survey Department to mark a 3,000-acre plot of land, which they planned to confiscate later, from the fields, farms and gardens of the local people in Pa Leo (Kaeng Laab) tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township. It is believed the land will be sold to a Chinese company “Ho Pang”, with no compensation given to the local farmers. According to recent reports, some members of ‘Ho Pang’ have seen the plot and will most likely buy it. Similar plots have been marked out in other village tracts, such as Nam Kherm and Murng Laen. (Source: SHRF)

Since early 2001, SPDC military authorities in Larng-Khur have confiscated thousands of acres of cultivated lands including plantations of sugarcane, tobacco, betel leaves and betel nuts, bamboo and other hardwoods to be used for building military bases and other military facilities. In April 2001, SPDC military authorities in Larng-Khur confiscated over 1,200 acres of sugarcane plantations and about 15 acres of bamboo and betel nut plantations east of the Nam Taeng river in the area of Wan Haad village tract. The SPDC troops cleared all the sugarcane to use the land as a military training ground. They also forced the local people to clear trees from the surrounding higher ground and build a military camp with several barracks for the soldiers and new recruits. At the same time, several acres of tobacco plantations in Kho Ta village tract were confiscated from the local people to set up a base for a Light Infantry Battalion. Several acres of tobacco plantations in Pung Thun village tract were also confiscated to make a base for an artillery unit.In this way, many sugarcane and tobacco farmers in Larng-Khur township have lost their lands, and thus their livelihood. (Source: SHRF)

Since May 2001, SPDC troops of LIB316 have been confiscating land from people in Ta-Khi-Laek township to build military camps and for other military use, without compensation. The land, mostly woodlands where trees and bamboo have been planted for use as building materials and firewood, is in the areas of Ta Lur, East Murng Laen, West Murng Lane, Nam Kherm, Pa Leo and Kaeng Laab village tracts. In these areas the land is fertile and mostly flat. The SPDC troops simply mark out the land they want, or else send a small group of soldiers to a piece of land, and declare that it has been confiscated. The land owners are then no longer allowed to go onto the marked or guarded land. Original owners who have tried to secretly cut wood or bamboo from their former land, have been seized and forced to pay fines and sometimes beaten by soldiers.

On 18 May 2001, Kyu Ta, 36, a Lahu villager of Waeng Manaw in West Murng Laen tract, and his son Kya Ha, 18, were arrested by SPDC troops while cutting firewood on land that had been confiscated from them. The soldiers kicked and beat them several times and tied them up to a tree for 2 hours, only releasing them when their relatives payed a fine of 300 Baht.

On 26 May 2001, 3 Lahu villagers from Musur Lam village in Nam Kherm village tract were arrested and beaten, and their firewood taken by SPDC troops from LIB 316. Ja Mu, 31, Ja Wi, 29, and Ja Ma, 19, had been collecting firewood 5-6 miles from their village, as the areas close to their village had been confiscated.. The SPDC soldiers accused the villagers of stealing the wood from military land and ordered them to kneel down in a row, then slapped, kicked and beat them, forcing them to confess to their ‘crime.’ The soldiers then ordered the villagers to leave their bundles of firewood and go home, warning them not to tell anyone about the incident or else they would come after them and kill them. (Source: SHRF)

On 7 June 2001, SPDC troops from IB283 confiscated 500 acres of rice fields belonging to villagers in several villages in Kae-See township and gave them to the area Lahu people’s militia. The commander of Co. No.4 of IB 283, Capt. Thaung Nyunt, issued an order confiscating 500 acres of land from the following villages: Murng Sawng, Nawng Tao, Murng Lerm, Wan Tong, Murng Yaang, Ter Taad and Wan Zing. Some villagers who had all of their land confiscated tried to plead with the SPDC troops not to take their land and were scolded, slapped, kicked and beaten. Some were slapped many times causing their faces to become swollen.
(Source: SHRF)

In June of 2001, SPDC troops from Kun-Hing-based LIB 524, stationed in Kaeng Tawng of Murng-Nai township, under the command of Capt. Mya Htun, confiscated several acres of deserted rice fields from farmers who had been relocated. In the process, they also confiscated 40 acres of adjacent rice fields which were still being cultivated by farmers. The confiscation affected 7 farmers in the area, each of whom owned parts of the 40-acre rice fields. The farmers tried to explain and asked the SPDC troops to give back their land, but the troops threatened to shoot them if they complained again. (Source: SHRF)

In June 2001, SPDC township level officer, Tin Oo, in Paang Saai area in Mu-Se township confiscated several acres of rice fields from the local people and sold them to Chinese nationals. One of the local farmers, not knowing that his rice field had been taken away from him, was planting rice when he was shouted at and beaten by Tin Oo, who forced him to pull out all the rice seedlings he had planted. The following are the farmers who lost their rice fields to the SPDC official in this case:

1. Jawn Song (m), of Wan Zae village, lost a field large enough to plant 5 baskets of rice seeds

2. Ai Yong (m), of Wan Zae village, lost a field large enough to plant 5 baskets of rice seeds

3. Yi Thun (m), of Nam Hoo village, lost a field big enough to plant 1-1/2 baskets of rice seeds

4. A quarter of Wan Zae village, jointly lost a large piece of land enough to lant16 baskets of rice seeds. (Source: SHRF)

In mid-June 2001, SPDC troops of Ta Lur-based LIB316 confiscated a hill of woodland, called Kawng Maak Khaam, from the villagers of Murng Laen in Ta-Khi-Laek township. They then forced the local people to build a military camp for new recruits to be conscripted in the near future. Since June 13, people in the village tracts of Ta Lur, Murng Laen, Nam Kherm, Pa Leo and Kaeng Laab have been forced to provide unpaid forced labour every day to build the new military camp. The villagers have to take turns providing forced labour in order to be able to tend their rice fields. From 5 up to 12 houses from each village, in proportion to its size, have to go at one time. Some farmers hire others to go on their behalf so that they can have more time to tend their rice fields. The villagers have to cut trees and clear the ground at the top of the hill, and dig the ground to level it. They have to build fences, dig trenches and build barracks, and they also have to build a road leading from the main road up to the hill top. (Source: SHRF)

From February to April 2001, more than 300 motorcycles were seized by SPDC authorities in Lasio, working under instructions of the Commander of the Northeastern Military Command, Maj. Gen. Tin Aung Myint Oo. The motor cycles were taken from local people in Lasio township, ostensibly, because they did not have licenses. Many of the owners had previously tried several times to apply for licenses for their motorcycles, but the authorities concerned had simply ignored their applications. In April and May 2001, SPDC authorities in Mu-Se also confiscated 250 motorcycles from the local people in Mu-Se township for the same reason. The owners of the motorcycles also complained that they had applied for licenses but they had not been granted. (Source: SHRF)

On 9 March 2001, SPDC authorities confiscated goods imported from Thailand from several shops in Ta-Khi-Laek township. The goods included; fuel, oil for motor vehicles, seasoning powder, ready-made dried noodles, drinks, and various kinds of cookies and candy. According to the local shopkeepers, the goods were not banned and were distributed among military and administrative personnel for their own consumption. A six-wheeler truckload of Thai goods was taken away from the shops, worth about 300,000 baht, reported a local shopkeeper. (Source: SHRF)

On 17 March 2001, the SPDC police stole more than 300,000 Baht of consumer goods from traders at the police checkpoint in Murng Phong tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township. Traders transporting goods to Ta-Khi-Laek town from the ‘golden triangle’ border-crossing were stopped by police, led by Lt. Sein Laing at Huay Lin Lam checkpoint. The police searched the traders and seized all consumer goods they were carrying, including cooking oil, canned milk, ready-made noodles and various other food stuffs. Although Thai authorities have banned trade at all border crossing points, they still allow some essential goods such as cooking oil, seasoning powder, seasoning liquid, salt, cookies and other food stuffs to pass through at the ‘golden triangle’ border crossing point. Two days after seizing the goods, the police asked the peoples’ militia at Huay Lin Lam to sell the seized goods to shop owners in Ta-Khi-Laek town. (Source: SHRF)

In May 2001, two villagers returning home from the town market, after selling a pig, were stopped, tied, and robbed of their money by SPDC troops from LIB360. the incident occured about 3 miles from their village, Ka Leng, in Sen Mawng village tract, Murng-Paeng township. Zaai Lu, 36, and Zaai Mu, 31, were returning to their village, after selling their pig for 9,300 Kyat and having bought some cooking oil and seasoning powder, when they ran into the soldiers. Without any warning or explanation, the troops seized the 2 villagers, tied their hands behind them and searched their bodies. The troops took away all the money and foodstuffs they found, and then slapped, beat and kicked teh two villagers, and finally let them go without untying them. They remained tied until they reached their village. (Source: SHRF)

On 29 September 2001, SPDC troops from IB 99, led by Capt. Kyaw Lwin, robbed the people of Paang Wawng quarter in Larng-Khur town. 10 SPDC troops from Co. No.4 from IB99, all in camouflage, entered the house of Lung Kan-Tha & Pa Yaen and arrested them. The troops beat Lung Kan-Tha with a stick, and ordered them to bring out all the money and valuables they had in the house, threatening to kill them if they found that the villagers had left anything hidden in the house. Lung Kan-Tha and Pa Yaen lost 10,600 Kyats, 3-1/2 Bahts weight of gold ornaments, 2 tape recorders, 5 wristwatches, 1 camera and many clothes, altogether worth more than 300,000 Kyat. The troops then went to the house of Lung Yuay & Pa Nae in the same quarter of the town and robbed them of their possessions. Lung Yuay and Pa Nae lost 54,600 Kyat of money and 2 Bahts weight of gold ornaments. After that, they robbed Lung Pan-Ta and Pa Leng at their house, taking away 48,500 Kyat of money, 4 Bahts weight of gold ornaments, 1 tape recorder, 3 wristwatches, 6 Buddha statues and a lot of clothes. The troops told the people they were Tai Leng (or Red Shan) members of the SSA, but the victims recognized Capt Kyaw Lwin among them. (Source: SHRF)

On 6 October 2001 7 villagers of Wan Kawng village in Murng-Yawng township were robbed of their fish and beaten by SPDC troops from LIB334. On that day, the 7 villagers had together caught about 26 viss (1 viss = 1.6 kg) of fish in the area of their village and were carrying it home when on the way they were stopped by a patrol of 12 SPDC troops from LIB334. The troops accused the villagers of having stolen the fish from other people’s fish ponds in the area and took away the fish. When the villagers denied the accusation, explained that they had not stolen the fish and asked the soldiers to give them back, some of the troops became angry and beat the villagers with their rifle butts, badly injuring 3 of them. When they had beaten the villagers, the troops gave back 1 viss of fish to each of them and ordered them to go home. In addition to injuries, the villagers lost 19 viss of fish, which could be sold at 1,200 Kyat per viss at the market, to the SPDC troops.

1. Zaai Laa Keo (m), aged 21, suffered from a fractured skull

2. Zaai Long (m), aged 19, suffered from a badly sprained shoulder

3. Zaai Ping Long (m), aged 19, suffered from a badly sprained waist

(Source: SHRF)

Since 25 July 2001, people in Ko Lam tract, Nam-Zarng township, have been forced by SPDC troops from IB 66 to dig a 11-1/2-mile-long irrigation ditch through a stretch of rice fields of the local farmers, destroying several acres in the process, to the new rice fields forcibly sold to some relocated farmers. About 50-60 people in Ko Lam tract are being conscripted as unpaid forced labourers each day to dig the said ditch, which is about 3-4 yards wide and about 2-3 yards deep, using their own tools and providing their own food. The intended purpose of the ditch is to divert water from Nam Mawng stream to feed some 60 acres of new rice fields beyond the existing rice fields and, instead of taking a roundabout route, the authorities ordered the ditch to be dug right across them. The new rice fields are situated south of Wan Phui village in Ko Lam tract. They were measured by the SPDC authorities in the area in May this year and sold to to displaced farmers, who had been relocated to the area and had no land to farm, at the price of 10,000 Kyat per acre. It was said that initially no farmers wanted to buy the new rice fields, which had been measured out of barren land, at such a high price. After almost a month with no buyers, the authorities declared they would collect 5,000 Kyat from each household as the fees for measuring the land. Not wanting to lose 5,000 Kyat for nothing, farmers who had some money and had no land bought the land, generally 2-3 acres for each household. (Source: SHRF)

On 6 September 2001, SPDC authorities from the Department of Agriculture, led by U Myint Than, in Mu-Se came to Paang Long, Kawngmu Loi and Kawngmu Tong villages in Mu-Se township and forced the villagers to sell 41 baskets of unhusked rice at the price of 360 Kyat per basket, while the actual market price in the area was 1,400 Kyat per basket. According to the local people, earlier this year SPDC authorities in northern Shan State issued an order requiring farmers to sell their unhusked rice at the rate of 4 baskets per acre of cultivated land, at the price of 360 Kyat per basket, no matter what the current market price might be. This order has put many farmers in a very difficult situation in which they have not enough rice left even for their families’ own consumption. One local farmer explained as follows:

Usually only about 5 baskets of unhusked rice per acre are left for the farmer at the end of the harvest, and if he/she has to sell another 4 baskets at a giveaway price, only 1 basket would be left for his own consumption, together with very little money from the selling of the 4 baskets. When something goes wrong and the farmer does not have enough rice to sell to the authorities, he would have to buy from others at the market price and resell at their designated price, which is usually many times lower”.(Source: SHRF)

On 28 September 2001, SPDC military authorities in Kaeng Tawng area in Murng-Nai township issued an order to the village and village tract leaders in the area notifying them that the military would be procuring more rice from the people in the coming year, 2002. In the meeting held at the base of LIB324 at Ton Hung village relocation site, to which all the village and village tract leaders from the 4 village tracts in the area had been summoned, Tactical Command Commander Khin Maung Myint issued an order requiring the people in the area to sell 4,000 baskets of rice to the military in early 2002, a double-fold increase compared to the rate of 2,000 baskets per year over the last few years. Khin Maung Myint said that the rice was needed to feed the SPDC soldiers of several newly deployed battalions to protect the people in the area and on no account should it be less than the demanded amount. Although previously it was IB246 from Kun-Hing township that usually came and bought 2,000 baskets per year, it would now be only for the troops who had come to protect the people in Kaeng Tawng area.

The purchase would be done during the first 2 months of 2002 at the rate of 700 Kyat per basket, while the current market price in the area was between 2,000 and 2,200 Kyat per basket. (Source: SHRF)

On 15 October 2001, SPDC military authorities in the Kaeng Tawng area of Murng-Nai township issued an order requiring all the 4 village tracts in Kaeng Tawng area to grow cold season crops for the military. The crops were Japanese sesame, peanut and potato. The seeds were provided by the military and the people were to cultivate them and produce the amount demanded by the military or they would have to buy crops from somewhere else to fill up the quota. The following list shows the village tracts and the amount of seeds they were required to cultivate:

1. Ton Hoong tract was required to cultivate 30 tins of Japanese sesame, 20 tins of peanut and 500 viss of potato

2. Kun Mong tract was required to cultivate 30 tins of Japanese sesame, 25 tins of peanut and 500 viss of potato

3. Kun Long and Nawng Hee tracts were required to cultivate 50 tins of Japanese sesame, 35 tins of peanut and 700 viss of potato

(Note: 1 tin = 20 litres, 1 viss = 1.6 kg)

The seeds were given to each village and tract headman to start cultivating from the end of October 2001 onwards. Each kind of crop was to yield 10 to 20 fold as shown in the following list.

(1). 1 tin of Japanese sesame was to yield 10 tins

(2). 1 tin of peanut was to yield 20 tins

(3). 1 viss of potato was to yield 10 viss

Similar incidents are said to have been taking place in several other townships such as Murng-Ton, Murng-Sart, Larng-Khur, Murng-Nai and Murng Pan. People in these townships are being required to cultivate the above mentioned crops for every military battalion based in their townships. Each battalion must have each kind of crop cultivated on at least about 20 acres of land, and must have all 3 kinds of the said crops. Most of the work needed to cultivate the crops would undoubtedly be done with the unpaid forced labour of the people. (Source: SHRF)

On 24 April 2001 a troop of Burmese soldiers arrived at Awpu Hkee in the east of Palaw township, Mergui district, Tenasserim Division. When they arrived at the village, the residents had already fled and were hiding, so the soldiers burnt down eight houses. The houses belonged to

1. Saw Pa Baw

2. Hton Aye

3. Saw Dah Kyi

4. Saw Aung Nya

5. Ka Hswe

6. Naw Hse Mu

7. Saw Pa Keh

8. Nyein Maung (130 baskets of paddy were also lost).

(Source: CIDKP)

In June 2001, soldiers looted money and gold jewlery from people in Saw Phyar, Taung Sinn and Kywe Chan villages, Launglon tsp, Tenasserim Division. The soldiers were led by Lt Col Kyi Myint. In Kywe Chan village, the soldiers beat three persons: Yuu (female 47), San Thein (63) and Maung Lwin (37) the chairman of the village Peace and Development Council. (Source: THRF)

Since the beginning July 2001, conflicts between KNU and SPDC troops have taken place frequently near the villages in Myekanbaw village tract. The SPDC military has conducted house to house searches in these villages and looted the villagers’ household belongings. Even poultry was taken for army rations. Instead of taking rotating porters, an action military of SPDC, collected porter fees whenever they arrived in any of the villages. (Source: ABSDF)

On 22 April 2001 it was reported that the tactical command (3) under military operation command (9) from Mit-ta village, which has been located in the eastern part of Tavoy township since the beginning of April 2001, has begun to oppress residents of the villages in Mye-kan-baw village tract including Pyin-tha-taw, Tha-pyu-chaung, Kye-tha-inn, Ka-mit, Nayung-done, Hninn-pa-yoke, Mye-kan-baw, Zee-pyu, etc. One of the ways they oppress the villagers is by refusing to allow them to transport rations from Taung-thone-lone village to the villages of Mye-kan-baw village tract without SPDC permission or without a recommendation letter from the tactical command (3). The SPDC has warned the residents that anyone who is found to be transporting rations without permission will be severely punished. (Source: ABSDF)

Maung-mei-shaung village has 1500 households. On 29 April 2001 it was reported that the village level SPDC authority each month demands the following funds from each household:

Fund for authorities entertainment (100) Kyat

Fund for village development (100) Kyat

Fund for militias and fire rescuers (100) Kyat

Fund for soldiers on the frontline (100) Kyat

General Fund (100) Kyat .

Thus the total monthly fees collected from the residents from Maung-mei-shaung village by the VPDC is 500 Kyat.

The VPDC from Maung-mei-shaung village also continues to collect at least 5 porters each month for military operations. Every time they collect porters for military operations, they also collect 1500 Kyat per household for each porter, saying that they will give this money to the porter as compensation. (Source: ABSDF)

On 17 May 2001, it was reported that the houses in this township have to pay 700 kyat a month in porter fees to the local authorities. This money is used to pay voluntary porters. The porters are taken to the LIB 25 camp in Tavoy Township. Every porter is paid 40,000 kyat. Sometimes, the military leaders ask for more porters, so the local authorities need more money and collect more from the people in the township (between 1000 and 1500 kyat from each house). If the people do not pay the authorities inform the police station and the police force them to be unpaid porters. Some people work voluntarily as porters because the economic situation in the four townships of Tavoy District is very difficult and there is high unemployment. They use the money they earn portering to support their families. However, many people do not want to be porters as it is very dangerous and they search for any way to pay the porter fees. One effect of the difficult economic situation has been rising incidents of theft. In Tavoy township, every village has firemen who are responsible for the security of their quarter in the village and have to stand guard every night. One fireman and 5 civilians from each quarter in the township has to participate in these duties. If someone does not want to go, they have to pay 300 kyat to pay for a replacement. In addition, every month the authorities ask every house to donate 100 kyat for a security fund. Also in Tavoy township, the people receive irregular electric service (they get one day of electricity every four days) but have to pay 500-1000 kyat monthly despite the fact that they often have to rely on candles and lamps. (Source: ABSDF)

On 18 May 2001 it was reported that Sin They Village has approximately 300 households, and is located near Dauk Lauk and Pa Dauk Gone villages where LIB 406 and 407 are located. The military authorities ask the local authorities to give forced labor for their agriculture projects (gardens). In addition to numerous demands for forced labor, In Sin They village the villagers have to pay 100 kyat every month to the village authorities for a fund to buy food and snacks for when the township authorities visit. Another 100 kyat is collected every month for the soldiers when they come to visit, and a further100 kyat is collected every month for the village development fund. (Source: ABSDF)

On 24 July 2001 it was reported that owners of nipa-palm plantations in Khaungwapyin village, once a year, have to pay as taxes 2 pails of palm sugar for every 100 matured nipa-palms and 10 flaps of palm thatches, to the PDC of Tayet Khaung Township. Those who fail to pay were warned that their planting license would be seized and auctioned off.

Even though the W/V PDC of Khaungwapyin village did not collect villagers as military operation porters, they regularly collected money they said was for hiring porters from other villages. The W/V PDC collected 1000-1500 Kyat per month from each household and warned those who failed to pay that they would be taken as military operation porter. Other funds that the W/V PDC of Kyaungwapyin village collected were 100 Kyat per household for the village military fund, 100 Kyat per household for the village development project fund and 100 Kyat per household for a general reception fund. (Source: ABSDF)

It was reported on 12 August 2001 that there is an SPDC army camp and a police station in Pa-karri village and that the Village PDC has been collecting 500 Kyats per household, each month for the authorities’ expenses, such as dinner, reception and entertainment expenses, as well as for the village development fund. (Source: ABSDF)

On 16 August 2001 it was reported that the LIB 379 army camp in Phounn-daw village orders the villagers to send a schooner each day in case it is needed by the army. The Village PDC als collects 500 Kyats per family, each month, saying that the money is to pay the fuel costs of the stand-by schooners. The current price of gas in the village is 1800 Kyats per gallon. (Source: ABSDF)

Yebyu Villagers Face Heavy ‘Tax’ Burden

Natkyizin village is in Yebyu township of the Tavoy district in northern Tenasserim division. It has about 500 households. On Sept 24, township authorities ordered the chairman of the town council to have every household supply materials for the repair of the rail line between Ye and Tavoy. Each household was required to provide a hundred cubic feet of road metal and a wooden sleeper and take it to railside before the end of September. According to the villagers the damage to the rail-line was caused by poor workmanship and materials used during the construction of the line from 1994-8. The embankment which were never properly compacted washes away during the rainy season and the sleepers decay year after year because of the poor quality of the wood. Trains on the line are often derailed and overturn and passengers have been injured and died in some incidents. The Ye-Tavoy line was constructed using the forced labour of thousands of villagers from four townships in Tavoy district as well as Ye township in Mon state. More than a hundred persons died from illnesses brought on by exhaustion, heat, malaria and diarrhea as well as landslides and killings. Residents of Natkyizin are also required to provide five porters a day to assist a platoon from the Burma Army’s Infantry Battalion 273 that is quartered in the town. Those unable to participate have to pay 500 kyat to hire someone else to do their duty. In addition, a Mon militia unit that split from the New Mon State Party has been demanding 1.5 million kyat (approx US$ 3,000) from the town every year. This has meant that the each household has secretly had to give 3,000 kyat to support the Mon group every year. Other payments required without fail from each household include a 100 kyat a month towards a village development fund, 100 kyat to host visiting military officers and 100 kyat for an armed militia unit connected to the Burma army. (Source: Burma Courier)

On 21 December 2001, KHRG reported that in Ler Mu Lah township, extortion money and taxes are regularly demanded from the villagers in addition to the money they pay to avoid forced labour. ‘Porter fees’ are one such form of direct extortion which is demanded monthly and can amount to 2,000 to 5,000 Kyat per month per family. These fees are supposedly used to hire porters so the villagers do not have to go, but in reality the money is simply pocketed by the officers while the villagers still have to go as porters. Failure to pay these ‘porter fees’ can result in arrest or additional forced labour as a porter. More formal taxes are demanded from villages nearer the coast, but villages in the mountains are usually too impoverished to pay these. There are also rice quotas levied on the villages in the area. The quotas are from 10 to 15 baskets of paddy (rice still in the husk) per acre, which represents 20% to 50% of the crop depending on yield. The rice is gathered and sent by forced labour porters to the area Army headquarters at Ler Pa Doh on the southern Tenasserim River. (Source: KHRG)

As reported on 31 May 2001, Kha Maung Taung village has 120 households, and the chairperson of the VPDC, Thein Aung, collects two porters every month. Every house has to pay 1000 kyat a month for porter fees. One porter receives 40,000 kyat. If someone refuses to pay the 1000 kyat he or she cannot stay in the village anymore. Therefore, if they want to stay in their homes they have to find a way to earn the money. Those who are asked to be porters dare not refuse. According to a farmer who arrived at the border area on May 31, it costs the following to farm one acre of land.

1. to plow one acre 3,500 kyat

2. to plant the rice 2,500 kyat

3. to fertilize (de su par, made in Thailand) 1 bag, 5,000 kyat

4. to fertilize (pa le, made in Thailand) 2 bags 8,000 kyat

5. to weed 2,500 kyat

6. to thresh the rice 2,500 kyat

7. transportation and general fees 2,000 kyat

Total for one acre: 26,000 kyat

In this village, one acre produces 80 to 100 baskets of rice. The farmers give the agriculture authorities 12 baskets per acre. Moreover, every rainy season, the farmers are forced to borrow money (1800 kyat per acre) from the authorities (agriculture department). When the rice growing season is over, the farmers have to sell the rice to the authorities at a price of 350 kyat per basket even though the normal price should be between 500-600 kyat. They also have to pay back the money they borrowed. On some occasions, the farmers do not grow any rice, but because they have to sell rice to the authorities, they have to buy rice from other sources to sell to the authorities. If they cannot sell rice the agriculture authorities, their farms will be occupied for the military by the agriculture authorities. The farmers are afraid of this, so they try to get rice by any means. The agriculture authorities give local farmers fertilizer made in Burma, but the quality is very low, therefore the local farmers have to rely on expensive fertilizers made in Thailand. (Source: ABSDF)

In March 2001, villagers from Kyaung, Kann Nee and Kind Taw, Ye Township, Tennaserim Division, were forced to work constructing camps for LIB 583 and 591. About 160 soldiers from LIB 62 and 343 guarded the projects. The local military authorities also confiscated 400 acres of gardens and vegetable fields owned by local people. In addition to forced labor, the villagers had to lend bullock carts and saws to the military without payment. The authorities also sent letters to the surrounding villages demanding that 1,000 to 3,000 leaves to be collected for the roofs of the new camps. The local villagers reported the forced labor incident to the New Mon State Pary (NMSP) which has a cease-fire agreement with SPDC. NMSP complained to SPDC when the project was 70% finished. The authorities agreed to make a contract with businessmen close to the junta to finish the project, however it did not happen and the villagers had to finish the construction of the camps without any payment. (Source: THRF)

On 4 April 2001, No. 965 Engineering and Construction military battalion/unit based in Tha Byae Chaung village arrived at the train station in Kyauk Ka Nyar village, 2 miles from Ye Phyu township. Upon arrival the battalion started to measure the paddy fields and gardens. On April 25, gardens and paddy fields that had been measured on April 18 were confiscated by the military. Signboards were placed in the area stating “This area is owned by the military. No one is allowed to enter.” The owners of the land were ordered to vacate the land, but leave their homes intact. They were told not to destroy their trees and plants in the gardens. The residents of Kyauk Ka Nyar village lost the following land:

1. Hla Pe (m) Betel nut, cashew, vegetables 7 acres

2. Pe Khin (m) Betel nut, cashew, vegetables 10 acres

3. Hla Khin (m) Rubber 12 acres

4. Tin Win (m) Rubber 7 acres

5. Hla Pu (m) Betel nut, rubber 15 acres

6. Suu Mae (m) Betel nut, rubber, vegetables 8 acres

7. Ba Sein (m) Betel nut, rubber, durian 40 acres

8. See San (m) Betel nut, cashew, vegetables 6 acres

9. Aye Nyan (m) Betel nut, cashew 8 acres

10. Hmwe (f) Cashew 15 acres

11. Thein Nyunt (m) Cashew 5 acres

12. San Kyay (m) Betel nut, cashew, rubber 15 acres

13. Win Tin (m) Betel nut, rubber, vegetables 30 acres

A few hundred other acres were seized by Unit 965, but exact details are unavailable. No one is currently allowed to enter the lands that have been seized, and Unit 965 has warned that if they catch villagers in these areas they will be accused of being rebel soldiers and be shot. In May 2001, Unit 965 used bulldozers to clear the ground and they brought construction materials for future building. According to villagers from Kyauk Ka Nyar, gardens near the confiscated land are now also in danger of being seized. At the end of May 2001, this unit started their activities again (measuring gardens). In the village, there are now 300 acres occupied by the military. In the future another 400 acres will be occupied by the military and made into a military camp. Every village group is responsible for constructing the buildings for the future camp (one village group per building). The cost of construction is 700,000 to 800,000 for one building. Ye Phyu TPDC has ordered the VPDCs to collect the money for the above mentioned project, which will start in June 2001. Meanwhile, Unit 965 is forcing the locals to work on other construction projects.(Source: ABSDF)

In April 2001, Ka Ya Kha seized 300 acres of agricultural land and 400 acres of extra land for the army, all together about 700 acres, which belonged to people in the region, without giving any compensation. The land was to be used to construct the No (34) missile aircraft squadron. After seizing the land, the TPDC of Yepyu Township ordered people to work without pay to construct the squadron, and collected 500 Kyat per household for the construction fund from near by villages. The construction took 2 months. The owners whose land had been seized, sent a representative to Commander Major General Aye Kywe to negotiate a way to reclaim their land. The Commander responded that if the owners agreed to pay 30,000 Kyat per a piece of land, the military would withdraw. All the owners agreed and collected 30,000 Kyat each -a total 1,200,000 Kyat- and sent with the money to General Aye Kywe. However, the owners did not get any answer from the Commander. Currently the infrastructures for No(34) Missile aircraft squadron has already temporarily built and nobody is allowed to enter the area. (Source: ABSDF)

Situation in Gantgor-thaung Village - Yepyu Township

Gamtgor-taung village is a subordinate village of Kanpauk village Tract of Yepyu Township, and is located beside the Ye -Tavoy railway which is under the control of the military base of Ka La Ya (272). The people in the region make their living as farmers. In April 2001, the SPDC Forestry Department extended the area of its forest reserve. Consequently, 170 acres from 20 cashew nut plantations belonging to people in the region, were confiscated without compensation and added to the forest reserve. The SPDC Forestry Department cut down all the cashew nut trees in the areas they confiscated and cleared the land for substitute teaks. Besides Gantgor-thaung village, some of the plantation land of Thaungnyin-inn village, Phakhaung village and Kayinshindaphi village were also seized for the forest reserve by SPDC Forestry Department.

Despite the fact that there are foreign natural gas companies located in the region of Kanpauk village, the jobless rate has increased. This is a result of the foreign companies’ limited hiring of labourers and reducing daily wages. People from the village who worked as daily wage labours with the foreign companies earned wages that were inadequate to feed their families. Currently a daily worker earned 400 Kyat per day from Totel Company and Pelemia Oil Company, and if he had meals from company, he would get only 200 Kyat per day. In all villages in Lanpauk village tract, a family of 3 members needs 600 Kyat a day to survive, a 5 member family needs 1000 Kyat, and a family over 5 members family need more than 1500 Kyat for daily food expenses. Due to this, most men and women have left and gone to the Thai border to find jobs. (Source: ABSDF)

On 27 August 2001, a person from the village who arrived at the border reported that the SPDC authorities were checking peoples’ I.D. cards, and those who did not have their IDs with them were unable to travel to their plantation land and were made to return home.

Usually, farmers in the region, grow other vegetables after the main harvest season, to earn extra money. However, since two years ago, after the harvest the army has requisitioned the land to grow vegetables and rice to feed their troops. As the village is surrounded by many SPDC army camps, it seems that there would be no theft, but villagers lose their poultry every night. This is because the stealing is done by SPDC army themselves, but the villagers do not dare to speak out. (Source: ABSDF)

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