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KHRG Report 95-22
- Subject: KHRG Report 95-22
- From: smith@xxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 28 Jul 1995 04:07:00
SLORC ORDERS TO VILLAGES: SET 95-E
EXTORTION, THREATS, & CENSORSHIP
An Independent Report by the Karen Human Rights Group
July 2, 1995 / KHRG #95-22
Following are the direct translations of SLORC written orders
sent to Karen villages in areas south of Kawkareik (central Karen
State) and east of Thanbyuzayat (in southern Karen State). Most
of the orders were handwritten, except the anti-KYO orders, which
were typed. All of them were signed by SLORC officers, and most
are stamped with the rubber stamp of their units. Photocopies
of the original orders are available on request. Most of them
relate to extortion of money from villagers, threats to arrest
village leaders or destroy villages, and SLORC's attempts to block
the formation of Karen youth groups in the villages. Most of
these orders were issued in the latter half of 1994, but virtually
identical orders are still being constantly issued to the same
villages; however, the most recent orders are normally kept on
file by village leaders and are therefore not available as yet.
Many of the orders mention "servants' fees" (porter fees), "sentry
fees", "video fees", etc. These are fees which villagers must
constantly pay to local SLORC units. These fees do not make the
villagers exempt from forced labour as porters or sentries; they
are just excuses for the officers to steal money. Similarly,
"video fees" must be paid if the village owns a VCR, "ricefield
fees" must be paid by ricefield owners, "saw fees" must be paid
by any villager who owns a hand saw, etc. Millions of Kyat of
this dirty money flows every month to the families of soldiers
in Rangoon and other cities, helping to create the false illusion
of prosperity which fools some visitors. They do not see these
villages, where people must even sell their livestock just to
pay "fees" - and when even that is gone, they must flee their
village or face arrest and torture.
In this report cash amounts are given in Kyat. At official rate,
US$1 = 6 Kyat, but at market rate US$1 is worth 110 to 150 Kyat.
However, these villagers are subsistence farmers and have no
money regardless of the exchange rate. Some details must be blacked
out to protect villages - names of people and places which have
been omitted are denoted by 'xxxx' or 'yyyy'. All numeric dates
are given in DD-MM-YY format, which is the standard in Burma.
TOPIC SUMMARY: Extortion of cash and goods (#2,3,5-14,17,18,20),
extortion of timber (#7,8, 10,11), arrest (#3,15,16), threats
to arrest (#1,6,8,21,24), threats to destroy villages (#2,13,19),
forced labour (#4,22,23), coverup of a Tatmadaw shooting (#25),
attempts to block the Karen Youth Organization (#26-28), restrictions
on Mon language education (#29), speech censorship (#30).
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #1
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman / Mr. xxxx 28/10/94
#X Company xxxx village
You didn't come when we called. The Army column is angry. Your
village and us have a relationship [the wording implies "sometimes
we need you and sometimes you need us"]. If we meet your villagers
we will punish them. If you don't come see us, it will be worse.
That is all.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #2
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman / Mr. xxxx 26/10/94
#X Company xxxx village
You didn't come and give servants' fees and sentry fees from your
village. If you don't give, okay. But villagers from xxxx will
be punished if they meet with the Army column. If you don't come,
when the column arrives in your village we will crush your village
into many many pieces. But I'm not telling you to come. That
is all.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #3
Stamp: 15-11-94
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman / Secretary
Column X xxxx village
(1) Five days ago we sent a villager to report to you about the
case of taking pigs, chickens and ducks. So now xxxx village
owes 7,000 Kyat compensation to yyyy camp. As soon as you receive
this letter come with the money.
(2) Bring along 5,000 Kyats servants' fees for 10/94 to give
to the army column.
(3) xxxx village headman Saw yyyy is already arrested. If you
don't come and the Army column arrives [at your village], action
will be taken against another village leader. If you don't come
quickly, another xxxx village leader will be sent to the police
station.
[Sd.]
Intelligence Officer
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
[Note: later, someone from KNU wrote on the order "Our column
entered and occupied, that's why they grabbed civilians". It
appears that SLORC troops looted livestock from the village and
the villagers reported it to the military command. As a result,
instead of being compensated they are being forced to pay 7,000
Kyat compensation to the Army. This may also be the reason for
the arrest of the village headman.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #4
To: Chairman / Mr. xxxx 20/11/94
xxxx village
Do as I say. Handle the issue of servants and come to the camp
together with this messenger.
[Sd., xxxx camp]
Company Commander
No. X Company
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
[Note: "Handle the issue of servants" means "arrange some porters for us".]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #5
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman
#X Company xxxx village
As soon as you get this letter, come quickly and give sentry fees,
video fees and servants' fees. This is the last notice. If you
fail, we do not take any responsibility for what will happen.
23-11-94 is the deadline date. Come and bring it.
[Sd., xxxx camp]
Company Commander
No. X Company
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #6
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman 16/10/94
#X Company xxxx village
Chairman, come quickly yourself. If you fail, we will arrest
people from xxxx village. The Army column is demanding servants'
fees and sentry fees. Come and bring them quickly to yyyy camp.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
yyyy camp
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #7
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman 16-9-94
#X Company xxxx village
As soon as you get this letter, come quickly with sentry fees
of 1,000 Kyats and servants' fees of 6,000 Kyats. Now it is 16
days overdue. As punishment, bring one duck. Also bring us the
timber. If you fail, we will take action within 2 days.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #8
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman 21-9-94
#X Company xxxx village
Five letters have already been sent. You didn't come and bring
the timber. Gentlemen, if you fail we will come and arrest you.
(1) Servants' fees 6,000 Kyats, sentry fees 1,000 Kyats - Total
7,000 Kyats. You have to pay. It is now 21 days overdue. Come
and bring it quickly.
(2) We will confiscate illegal timber. Come yourself to discuss
this. Come quickly, and bring the timber we ordered.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #9
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman 16/10/94
#X Company xxxx village
Come in person and pay month 7/94 for July. Mr. xxxx, come and
pay month 8/94 for August. You need to pay month 9/94 for September.
The Army column is now demanding 10/94 for October. You are
one month overdue. Come quickly and pay. Quickly prepare yourself
and come.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #10
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman 7-10-94
#X Company xxxx village
We have already received sentry fees and servants' fees for the
month of 8/94, August. Now it is already the end of September,
9/94. The Army column demands servants' fees for September, together
with timber. Come and bring it quickly.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #11
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman 7-10-94
#X Company xxxx village
The Army column demands sentry fees and servants' fees for 9/94,
September, together with timber.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #12
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman 10/10/94
#X Company xxxx village
We already received sentry fees and servants' fees for the month
of 8/94. For the month of 9/94, come quickly and bring [the money].
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #13
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman 13/10/94
#X Company xxxx village
We already received servants' fees for the month of 8/94, August.
But we haven't yet received servants' fees and sentry fees for
the month of 9/94, September. If you don't come, we will take
action when the Army column arrives [at your village]. Chairman,
come quickly.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #14
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman 19/10/94
#X Company xxxx village
We have sent many letters. Chairman, come in person and bring
quickly 7,000 Kyats for servants' fees and sentry fees.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #15
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman / Secretary
Column 1 xxxx village
Subject: Come and see us quickly
Regarding the above subject, we have already called and held the
Pastor from xxxx village in yyyy camp. As soon as you get this
letter, the Chairman/Secretary yourself must come and see the
army column without fail.
Date: 23-8-94 [Sd.]
Intelligence Officer
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #16
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Abbot [of the monastery] 22-8-94
#X Column xxxx village
We have arrested all the people connected with xxxx village.
If the Chairman and Secretary from xxxx village come and see us
at yyyy camp, we will release all the people. If they fail to
come we won't release them, and the Chairman and Secretary will
be responsible.
[Sd.]
Intelligence Officer
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #17
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman / Secretary 18-8-94
#X Company xxxx village
As soon as you get this letter, come quickly and bring servants'
fees of 6,000 Kyats and sentry fees of 1,000 Kyats for the month
of 7/94. I have already sent 4 letters. You are 18 days overdue.
Come quickly.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #18
To: Chairman 15-8-94
xxxx village
For Frontline Infantry Battalion XXX, Column X, you have to pay
servants' fees of 12,000 Kyats (twelve thousand Kyats). Come
and give it to Company 5 at yyyy village.
Chairman / Secretary / village leaders, come and see us at yyyy
tomorrow without fail.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. X Company
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
yyyy village
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #19
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman / Secretary
Column X xxxx village
Subject: Come and see us
Regarding the above subject, the Army column has already called
the Chairman / Secretary from xxxx village but they haven't come.
When you receive this letter, come and see us quickly or the
village will be damaged if you don't.
Date: 11-8-94 [Sd.]
Intelligence Officer
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #20
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman
xxxx village
I heard you will come on the 10th day after full moon of De Zow
Mon month [i.e. November 27]. If you come bring the video fees,
sentry fees and servants' fees with you. I HOPE, GENTLEMEN, THAT
YOU KEEP YOUR PROMISE and come the 10th day after full moon.
[Sd., xxxx camp]
Company Commander
No. X Company
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
[Note: the words shown in capital letters were written in red ink on
the order.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #21
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Chairman 13/11/94
#X Company xxxx village
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we already sent a message telling
you to come to yyyy camp on 11-11-94 but you failed. So we remind
you now. As soon as you get this letter, come to yyyy camp quickly,
without fail. If the Chairman is not there, one of the village
leaders should come and see us. If you fail, you will be responsible
and we will take severe action.
[Sd., yyyy camp]
Company Commander
No. X Company
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #22
To: Mr. xxxx (xxxx village)
One: We will have a meeting on 5-12-94 about construction of the
Three Pagodas Pass road. Come to yyyy camp without fail.
Two: If you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd.]
Camp Commander
yyyy village
[Note: this will be a meeting to assign forced labour duties to the village.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #23
To: Village headman Date: 26-12-94
xxxx village
Subject: To come and see us at the camp, again
Regarding the above subject, gentlemen, we already sent a letter
on the 24th to come and discuss labour for your village, but up
to now you have failed to come. As soon as you get this letter,
come quickly and see us at the military camp.
If you fail, we will take serious action.
[Sd.]
Camp Commander
xxxx Military Camp
I.B. #XXX
Date: 26-12-94
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #24
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: xxxx village
Column X Chairman / Secretary
Subject: As No. XXX Battalion column commander Major T--- has
told you, both of you must come to yyyy village to meet the Major
on 13-3-95 without fail. If both of you fail to come to see the
Major on the set date, then don't remain in your village.
Date: 13-3-95 (for) Column Commander
Place: yyyy village [Sd.]
[Note: "Don't remain in your village" essentially means "We'll
arrest or kill you if you remain".]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #25
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion RECOMMENDATION
Column X
To: Township Public Hospital Date: 9-12-94
xxxx Town
1) Mrs. xxxx and her daughter from xxxx village, xxxx township,
were wounded by insurgents coming to burn their house on December
XX, 1994 at about 12 a.m. [midnight]. We have sent them for emergency
treatment.
(a) Mrs. xxxx, age 55, Father's name xxxx
(b) yyyy, age 35, Father's name yyyy
2) The first recommendation was a mistake. This is the correct one.
[Sd.]
No. xxxx
Major xxxx
[Note: the story related to this letter is given in "Field Reports:
6th Brigade Area", 31/5/95, KHRG #95-20. Two SLORC soldiers deserted,
so SLORC troops arrested and tortured a whole family in a nearby
village. They were later released and sent home to sleep. Then
at about midnight SLORC soldiers called them to wake them up and
then immediately opened fire from outside the house, killing one
woman and wounding her mother and sister. The SLORC commander
wrote a letter so they could get into hospital, saying he "didn't
know" who had shot them - then he changed his mind and wrote this
second letter, blaming it on "insurgents". At the hospital, doctors
removed a G3 bullet (only used by the Tatmadaw) from the young
woman. Situations and letters like this are common - hospitals
are under orders not to treat gunshot victims unless they sign
papers blaming their wound on "insurgents" or carry letters like
this one from the Tatmadaw, and villagers shot by the Tatmadaw
are often too afraid to go to the hospital (especially if the
bullet remains inside), because they may be arrested as "insurgents".]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #26
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Headman 24-11-94
Column X xxxx village
As soon as you get this letter, yourself, the religious head,
and the head of the young boys and girls (youth), come together
and see us at yyyy on 24-11-94 [today], without fail.
Remark: If you fail we will take severe action. Bring one duck
or chicken and one pumpkin.
[Sd.]
Intelligence Officer
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
[Note: this is presumably to discuss the anti-KYO orders listed
below (#27 ).]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #27
[This order was duplicated and sent to all villages in the "33 Pagodas" area.]
Stamp:
#231 Infantry Battalion Frontline No. 231 Infantry Battalion
Intelligence Dept. Column 1
xxxx [camp]
Date: 1994 November 21
To: _xxxx_ village religious head
______ village head
______ village youth group
Subject: Notification
1) On 19-11-94, the KNU destructive elements called a meeting
for some of the village youth and made the following decisions:
(a) To form the Karen Youth Organization
(b) To recruit members in every village
(c) To put up the Karen Youth Organization sign in every village
(d) To learn Karen songs / Christian songs
2) We heard that the KNU destructive elements pressured the villages
to found a youth organization. This is not a social organization
but a Stick in the Hand [Burmese expression meaning a normally
harmless object being used as a weapon] for the KNU. Also, this
is against National Unity. This is to be used to suppress the
Buddhist religion. DON'T ALLOW IT TO FORM.
3) Some headmen have declared that last year the weather changed
and now the harvest is not so good, so the villagers have a lot
of troubles and they should not spend money in useless ways [implicitly
meaning membership or donations for KYO].
4) According to the history of 33 Pagodas [the name of the area],
people from different religions tried to kill the 33 monks, so
the people gave a ransom in gold. This history is told by the
village head and the monks.
5) Now the youth are told that this [KYO] is just for social
welfare, but this is only a cover. Their inner aim is religion
/ lack of national understanding [meaning inciting misunderstanding
between ethnic groups]. Karen youth pay no attention to this,
and elders who understand the past and the future understand what
they ['destructive elements'] are doing.
6) In Kawkareik Township, these kinds of organizations and meetings
are not allowed. If anyone gets involved in this kind of organization
or meeting, we WILL TAKE SEVERE (SEVERE) ACTION.
[Sd.]
Battalion Commander
[Note: words typed in capitals were underlined on the original order.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #28
[This order was duplicated and sent to all villages in the Kawkareik
Township area.]
Stamp:
#231 Infantry Battalion Frontline No. 231 Infantry Battalion
Column 1 xxxx - Kawkareik Township
Ref. No. 231 / 1005 / U 4
Date: 1994 November __
To: Headman
__xxxx__ village
Subject: The Karen Youth Organization was formed by KNU destructive
elements. This is an illegal organization and must be stopped
quickly. [this was underlined on the original order.]
1) Karen destructive elements want to spread their power in Kawkareik
Township and want to change from Buddhism to other religions in
Kawkareik Township. So we have heard that they tried to form
the Karen Youth Organization in villages to work for social welfare
(building bridges / repairing roads / clearing ground). This
is just pretend. Actually they want to organize to make gains
in politics and warfare.
2) According to the district report, this organization is not
formed according to the legal rules and regulations of the State.
However, in accordance with the enemy's situation, they want
to use the Youth for military purposes, but actually the Youth
are not interested in this. So every village must stop this organization
quickly as soon as they receive this letter.
3) They have a fund of 3,000 Kyats [the amount they have presumably
given each village to organize youth activities]. So buy something
and donate it to the monastery immediately, and then close the
fund. The village religious committee should receive it, and
then come to inform the military column themselves.
4) As soon as you get this letter, change the village youth leaders
for both boys and girls, and replace them with someone who is
not involved with the Karen Youth Organization. Then come and
inform the military column together with the religious leaders.
5) 27-11-94 is the deadline. Villages which do not act in response
to this order will face severe action.
[Sd.]
Battalion Commander
Distribution: One village two copies
Copy to: Chairman, District LORC
Chairman, Township LORC
Township People's Police office
Military Regional Command office
No. 97 Infantry Battalion
[Note: the aims of the KYO are to promote youth activity in areas
of Karen culture and social welfare at the village level, including
health care and farming projects. It is interesting to note in
this order that SLORC's idea of social welfare projects is "building
bridges, repairing roads and clearing ground", because this is
certainly not the KYO's nor the villagers' idea of what "social
welfare" means.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #29
Stamp: Township Law & Order Restoration Council
Township Law & Order Mudon Town
Restoration Council Ref. No. 1 / 1-3 / TLORC
Mudon Town Date: 1995 March 20
To: Chairman
Mon Literacy and Buddhist Culture Training Controlling Committee
Mudon Town
Subject: Regarding commencement of training
In order to begin Mon literacy and Buddhist culture training in
Mudon Township, you must include the following items with your
application form and you must send it to the Township Law & Order
Restoration Council, Mudon Town. You can begin your training
only when the Township Law & Order Restoration Council gives you
permission.
1) Details of how the teaching committee is organized.
2) Photographs of teaching committee members.
3) Short biographies of teaching committee members.
4) Photographs of male and female teachers.
5) Short biographies of male and female teachers.
6) Photographs of male and female students.
7) Subjects which are going to be taught and timetable.
8) Duration period.
9) Location where training will occur (must not be a school,
but a building connected with religion).
10) Recommendation paper from the owner of the location.
11) Number of male and female students and their respective addresses.
12) Details of how male and female teachers will be paid.
13) Teaching committee members and male and female teachers must
be clear of politics or connections with insurgent groups.
14) If there are any principals [overseers, above the level of
a headmaster] then they must give their photographs and short
biographies.
[Sd.]
(for) Chairman
Copies to:
State Law & Order Restoration Council, Mon State, Moulmein
District Law & Order Restoration Council, Moulmein
All Village and Quarter Law & Order Restoration Councils, Mudon Twp.
Office Copy
File Copy
[Notes: This order follows a recent clampdown against Mon language
education in public schools, in which the SLORC's complete ban
against Mon language education in Mon State schools became rigidly
enforced. The Mon people were told that Mon language, literacy,
culture and literature could only be taught in monasteries. Then
this order enforced strict SLORC control over even the teaching
in monasteries. Its terms are extremely intimidating, because
asking for photographs and biographies of all committee members,
teachers and students is SLORC's way of telling them that they
will be arrested on the slightest suspicion of any 'subversive'
thinking or action (furthermore, Item 10 forces the abbot of the
monastery to join the list of those liable to arrest). This order
is intended to frighten most people away from participation in
Mon cultural education programs, and to strictly control those
who are brave enough to meet its conditions. Many villages would
have a difficult time even finding a camera so they could submit
the required photographs. Keep in mind that what all these restrictions
are being targetted against is the simple right of Mon children
to learn to speak, read and write their own language and understand
their own culture. The New Mon State Party has reportedly indicated
its hope that this order will be rescinded under the recent ceasefire
with SLORC, although this is unlikely.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #30
Stamp:
#XXX Infantry Battalion To: Mr. xxxx Date: 30/12/94
Column X xxxx village
Gentleman, you have to give a speech for the Karen New Year opening
ceremony as "New Year greetings". Write it in Karen and Burmese.
Come today in person to yyyy and see us together with the written
text of your speech.
Remarks: Write it in Karen / Burmese, 2 languages. Come and
see us yourself, without fail.
[Sd.]
Column X
[Note: this order has been sent because even a "New Year's Greetings"
speech has to be censored and cleared by SLORC before it can be presented.]