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SHRF June 1997 Report




SHAN: JUNE 1997 S.H.R.F. REPORT 
July 7, 1997


KILLING OF 58 RELOCATED CIVILIANS IN KUNHING BY SLORC TROOPS IN EARLY AND
MID JUNE 
        People of Kaeng Lom tract, Kunhing township, who have been moved to
relocation sites near motor roads, pleaded with the Slorc local authorities
to allow them to go back and cultivate their rice fields and to gather
whatever food was left in their old villages because there  was a shortage
of food at the relocation sites. Permission was granted and some were
already working in their fields.
        On 6.6.97, some villagers with some bullock-carts went back to get
rice and paddy from their old village of Pha Lang, Kaeng Lom tract, Kunhing
township. They returned with several cart-loads of paddy and met some SLORC
troops of IB no.246 and LIB no.332 led by Maj. Nyunt Oo. Slorc troops
arrested the villagers, tied them up with ropes and shot them dead without
asking any questions, and took away their belongings and the carts and paddy.
        The following are the 26 villagers who were shot dead altogether at
the same time, and their possessions taken by Slorc troops. They were all
originally from Pha Lang village, Kaeng Lom tract, Kunhing township:
(1)     Pu Loi Kaw, 60, son of Loong
                Sai & Nai Nyo. Property lost
                -- 5,000 Kyat, 24 baskets of
                paddy, 1 wrist watch, 1 cart,
                2 oxen.
(2)     Nai Loi Poi, 40, Pu Loi Kaw's
                wife, daughter of Loong Kwan &
                Nai Nang.
(3)     Lai Zern Yong, 45, son of Loong
                Kham & Nai Yong. Property lost
                -- 500 Kyat, 24 basket of
                paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(4)     Nai Zing, 40, Lai Zern Yong's
                wife, daughter of Loong Ta &
                Nai Awn.
(5)     Su Nan Ta, 35, son of Loong Mung
                & Nai Su. Property lost --
                1,500 Kyat, 24 basket of paddy,
                1 cart, 2 oxen.
(6)     Nang Kham, 35, Su Nan Ta's wife,
                daughter of Loong Nya & Nai Lu.
(7)     Sang Aw, 28 son of Loong Pan Ta
                & Nai Kiu. Property lost --
                1,000 Kyat, 24 basket of paddy,
                1 cart, 2 oxen, 1 wrist watch.
(8)     Khat Nya, 30, son of Pu Loi &
                Nai Zing. Property lost --
                1,000 Kyat, 1 wristwatch, 24
                baskets of paddy, 1 cart, 2
                oxen.
(9)     Wi Ling, 50, son of Loong Kyawng
                & Nai Kyawng. Property lost -
                - 10,000 Kyat, 1 wrist watch,
                24 baskets of paddy, 1 cart, 2
                oxen.
(10)    Mu Ling, 45, son of Loong Lai
                Kham & Nai Zing. Property lost
                -- 1 wrist watch, 24 baskets of
                paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(11)    Kaw Ling, 45, son of Loong Zang
                Man & Nai Kaw. Property lost -
                - 1 wrist watch, 24 baskets of
                paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(12)    Su Ping Nya, 42, son of Loong
                Mart & Nai Kham. Property lost
                -- 2,000 Kyat, 1 wrist watch,
                24 baskets of paddy, 1 cart, 2
                oxen.
(13)    Khing Thun, 39, son of Loong
                Man & Nai Kham. Property lost
                -- 3,000 Kyat, 1 wrist watch,
                24 baskets of paddy, 1 cart 2
                oxen.
(14)    Khing Min, 37, son of Loong Kaw
                & Nai Nang. Property lost --
                1,000 Kyat, 1 wrist watch, 24
                baskets of paddy, 1 cart, 2
                oxen.
(15)    Sai Wong, 38, son of Loong Pan
                Ta & Nai Awng. Property lost -
                - 2,000 Kyat, 24 baskets of
                rice paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(16)    Loong Man, 40, son of Khing Zarm
                & Nai Nang. Property lost --
                3,000 Kyat, 24 baskets of
                paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(17)    Ae Nang, 20, daughter of Pan
                Zik Ta & Nai Zing. Property lost
                -- 24 baskets of paddy, 1 cart,
                2 oxen. (She was hired by
                other)
(18)    Kaw Ya, 50, son of Khing Ta &
                Nai Nang. Property lost --
                1,500 Kyat, 24 baskets of
                paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(19)    Su Ling, 20, son of Loong Kaw
                Ta & Nai Leng. Property lost -
                - 10,000 Kyat, 24 baskets of
                paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(20)    Loong Saw, 49, son of Loong Zarm
                & Nai Khin. Property lost --
                20,000 Kyat, 24 baskets of
                paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(21)    Nang Lao, 45, daughter of Loong
                Woo & Nai Mya. Property lost -
                - 4,000 Kyat, 24 baskets of
                paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(22)    Nang Mart, 43, daughter of
                Loong Su & Nai Long. Property
                lost -- 500 Kyat, 24 baskets of
                paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(23)    Nang Seng Zing, 38, daughter
                of Loong Su & Nai Long.
                Property lost -- 300 Kyat, 24
                baskets of paddy, 1 cart, 2
                oxen.
(24)    Ook Ta Ma, 35, son of Loong Su
                & Nai Long. Property lost --
                500 Kyat, 24 baskets of paddy,
                1 cart, 2 oxen.
(25)    Na Ling, 46, son of Loong Kaw
                Ling & Nai Maw. Property lost
                -- 25,000 Kyat, 24 baskets of
                paddy, 1 cart, 2 oxen.
(26)    Su Nan Ta, 29, son of Loong Sa
                & Nai Zing. Property lost --
                300 Kyat, 24 baskets of paddy,
                1 cart, 2 oxen.

        On 11.6.97, a patrol of Slorc troops from LIB no.524 met 10
villages who were gathering rice paddy in the deserted village of Wan Phai,
Kaeng Lom trat, Kunhing township. Without saying anything, the Slorc troops
shot all of them dead on the spot. They were formerly villagers of this village.
        The 10 victims were:
(1)     Loong Zarm, 50 son of Loong Nan
                Ta Wa & Pa Leng.
(2)     Pan Ti, 22, son of Loong Wa
                Ling & Pa Nang.
(3)     Sai Suay, 20, son of Loong Zarm
                & Nai Kaeng.
(4)     Sai Ekka, 27, son of Loong Kawn
                & Nai Suay.
(5)     Su Zing, 29, son Loong Zing Ta
                & Nai Yu.
(6)     Kaw Na, 39, son of Loong Su &
                Nai Keo.
(7)     Khing Khong, 51, son of Loong
                Ing & Pa Nang.
(8)     Wa Ling Ta, 36, son of Loong Ti
                & Pa Yong.
(9)     Khing Ung, 42, son of Loong
                Mart & Pa Leng.
(10)    Pan Ta, 45, son of Loong Zing
                Na & Pa Ngern.
        The Slorc troops also took away some cattle belonged to the
following villagers:
(1)     Zaw Ti Ka       lost 1 cow.
(2)     Nya Ling                lost 1 cow.
(3)     Nan Ta Nu       lost 1 cow.
(4)     Pa Moi          lost 1 cow.
(5)     Ai Lu Mart      lost 1 cow.
(6)     Nang Mawn       lost 1 cow.
(7)     Mu Ling         lost 1 cow.
(8)     Su Wong         lost 1 cow.
(9)     Khing Mawng     lost 1 cow.
(10)    Kaw Ling                lost 1 buffalo.
(11)    Kung Nya                lost 1 buffalo.

        On 16.6.97, under the command of Lt. Col. Thein Soe, commander of
Strategic Command (1) of Eastern Command, Capt. Kuma of IB no.513 led his
troops to guard the road near Sai Khao old village, Kaeng Kham tract,
Kunhing township. They saw some villagers who had come back to get their
rice paddy in the deserted village. The Slorc troops arrested them, tied
them up together, 3 in a bunch, and shot them dead. These villagers all came
from Quarter (3) of Kunhing town where they had been relocated.
        The 22 villagers killed were:
(1)     Ping Nya, 42, son of Loong Na.
(2)     Kaw Wi Ta, 28, son of Loong Su
                & Nai Yu.
(3)     Zing Ta, 50, son of Loong Su.
(4)     Pan Ta, 45, son of Loong Kalar.
(5)     Zing Ta, 38, son of Loong Thun
                & Nao Pawk.
(6)     Nan Ti, 30, son of Loong Lai
                Sai & Nai Sai.
(7)     Nang Harn, 27, daughter of
                Loong Thun Leng.
(8)     Wa Ling Ta, 42, son of Loong
                Maha In.
(9)     Nang Zern, 29, (woman)
(10)    Loong Man, 44, son of Loong
                Kham Seng & Pa Pawk.
(11)    Sai La, 40, son of Loong Sang
                Ta.
(12)    Su Nan Ta, 38, son of Loong
                Kaw.
(13)    Sai Nya Na, 29, son of Loong
                Nan Ta.
(14)    Pi Nu, 48, son of Loong Awng.
(15)    Ai Sai, 20, son of Loong Lao
                Ma.
(16)    Khing Ta, 32, son of Loong Zan
                Ta.
(17)    Nang Zarm, 40, daughter of
                Loong Ta.
(18)    Loong Ma, 40, son of Loong Lai
                Seng.
(19)    Kaw Ling, 25, son of Loong Pho
                Mee.
(20)    Zan Ta La, 30, son of Loong
                Khyong.
(21)    Ai Ti, 32, son of Loong Nya &
                Nai Awng.
(22)    Khing Wa Ling, 40, son of Loong
                Lai Seng & Nai Seng.
        These villagers were all shot dead near the forest north of SaiKhao.

RAPE AND KILLING
        On May 10, 1997, Slorc Maj. Than Oo and 50 of his troops from
Kunhing LI no.44 came to Woe Long village, Kaeng Kham circle, Kunhing
township, and ordered the villagers to move to the town. On May 13, Loong
Inn Ta (57) and his daughter Nang Sep (16) came back to their village to
pick up some of their belongings, but were caught by Maj. Than Oo and his
troops. Maj. Than Oo ordered his troops to tie up Loong Inn Ta outside, and
then he took Nang Sep inside a house and raped her. They stayed inside the
house from 10:00 am. to 4:00 pm., and then Maj. Than Oo and his troops left.
Loong Inn Ta stayed tied up for the whole day and night, but at dawn he was
able to free himself. He then went into the house and found the body of his
daughter, who had been killed after being raped. Loong Inn Ta then returned
to the town in shock.

        On 8.5.97, a force of Slorc troops from Division 55 searched the
old village of Nar Mark Khaw, Kaeng Lom circle, Kunhing township, and shot
dead the following villagers. They were said to be all innocent men:
(1)     Pi Kung Ma, 32
(2)     Loong Zing Ta, 90
(3)     Loong Sang Long, 45

MULTIPLE KILLINGS OF VILLAGERS BY SLORC TROOPS IN KHO LAM AREA
        Within the last few months, it is estimated that several hundred
villagers have been killed by Slorc troops in the areas of several village
tracts, such as Wan Zing, Murng Lerm, Nar Poi, Nawng Tao, Kho Ood, etc.
which have been forced to move to Kho Lam and near motor roads, Namzarng
township.
        Hundreds of cattle have been killed or captured and sold by Slorc
troops. Dried meat produced by low ranking Slorc soldiers from these cattle
are so abundant that they are sold for only 10 Kyat per viss while the real
price in other towns is around 500 Kyat.
        The following are some of the incidents in which innocent villagers
were killed, and some were raped before being killed. SHRF has documented 67
killings in this report (Kho Lam) alone.

        On 29.3.97, Slorc troops from Kho Lam (sent from Arakan state,
formerly stationed in Ho Murng -- former GHQs of MTA -- now under the
command of Maj. Gen. Khin Maung at Namzarng) arrested a villager named Sai
Phit, 35, son of Loong Thark Long & Pa Kham of Nawng Kwai village, Hai Lai
circle, Namzarng township, who had been relocated at Wan Phui quarter of Kho
Lam. He was arrested at his house while sleeping with his wife and children
at about 9:30 pm. He was tied up with rope and taken to a place near a white
bridge in the village, where he was beaten while being interrogated and
finally shot dead.
        At dawn, a tolagyi (mini-tractor) was ordered to carry away the
corpse. His wife, who had come to see her husband's remains, was prevented
from getting near them by Slorc soldiers. She was said to have cried and
wept till she fainted.

        On 30.3.97, 3 villagers of Sarm Kyawng village, Hai Lai circle,
Namzarng township, who had been forced to resettle at Wan Phui quarter at
Kho Lam, were shot dead by Slorc troops while fishing on the bank of Nam
Mawng stream, not very far from Kho Lam. The 3 victims were Sai Mart, 28;
Saw Nan Ti, 26; another one, name still unknown.

        On 7.6.97, 6 villagers of Pa Karng, who had been relocated at Nar
Kham site just north of the army base at Kho Lam, Namzarng township, went to
get honey from wild bee hives in the forest 3 miles north of Kho Lam. All of
them and 1 of their 3 dogs were shot dead by Slorc troops in the forest.
Their 2 dogs that escaped went back to the village and led their
relatives to the killing site after Slorc troops had left.
        The 6 villagers killed were:
(1)     Ai Nu, 27, son of Loong Awng;
(2)     Ai Sa, 25, son of Loong Sa;
(3)     Zara, 30, son of Loong Kung Na;
(4)     Kaw Ling, 32, som of Kya Phong;
(5)     Mae Tha, 29, son of Sang Zai;
(6)     Wa La, 39, son of Loong Nya.

        On 11.5.97, Sai Ar Ta Pa, 35, and his 2 younger brothers, from Kho
Lam quarter 4, Namzarng township, went with a bullock-cart to carry bamboo.
On their way back, in the forest near the deserted village of Nawng Kwai,
they met Slorc troops who, on sighting them, shot at them even before they
could get down from the cart. Ar Ta Pa and one of his brothers died
instantly on the cart while another one managed to run away, though wounded,
and escaped. The 2 corpses were pulled down from the cart and thrown down an
old latrine pit in the old village of Nawng Kwai. One of the oxen was killed
for meat and the other was taken away and sold in another place.

        On 11.5.97, 15 Palawng villagers of Pha Ngarb village, Hai Lai
circle, Namzarng township -- men, women and children of all ages, including
an elderly man of 75 -- which had been relocated at Kho Lam, went back to
their old village with 5 hired bullock-carts to gather their things left
behind in their old village of Pha Ngarb. On their way back, they were all
shot dead on their carts by Slorc troops near the old village of Nawng Kwai.
Their bodies were dumped together in a pile and all the carts and oxen were
taken away by the Slorc soldiers.

        On 10.5.97, 2 sisters -- Nang Pu, 24 and Nang Seng, 26 -- of Wan
Luk Loi Waeng, Nar Poi circle, which had been forced to relocate at Kho
Lam, Namzarng township, went to sell some goods to Palawng villagers of Nam
Kawk Suk Mer village at their farms, about 7 miles north-west of Kho Lam. On
the way they met Slorc troops who shouted and shot at them on sight, running
towards them. The younger sister was hit and wounded, but she managed to get
away from them. The older one was captured alive and was taken away with her
hands tied. She was later raped and shot dead at a place 2 miles north-west
of Kho Lam, by the Slorc troops.

        On 11.5.97, a male-villager named Sai Nan Ti, 30, of Pa Mai
village, Nar Poi circle, Namzarng township, that had been relocated at Kho
Lam, went in search of his cart-oxen near his old village of Pa Mai. He was
shot dead on sight by Slorc troops.

        On 5.5.97, a villager named Sai Mu Ling, 32, son of Loong Thark
Pang & Pa Pe of Pa Moi village, Nar Poi circle, Namzarng township which had
been moved to Kho Lam, was arrested at his house by Slorc troops. He was
beaten and shot dead in the forest near the deserted village of Wan Paeng,
not very far from Kho Lam.
        A few days before this event, on 30.4.97, Sai Mu Ling's father,
Loong Thark Pang, went in search of his cattle and was returning, pulling
an ox when he met 2 Slorc soldiers south of the rice field of Pa Moi old
village, 4 miles north of Kho Lam. The 2 soldiers sprayed him with bullets
from their G-3 rifles until they discharged a whole magazine each. However,
the old man ran and escaped with a wound in the left side of his chest and a
broken rib. He was under secret medical treatment in Wan Phui quarter of Kho
Lam when his son was arrested.

        On 14.5.97, a villager named Sai Nan Ta, 27, and his brother, of
Wan Nang village, Kho Ood circle which had been relocated at Kung Nam Tawng
Lur quarter at Kho Lam, Namzarng township, went back to clean up the
irrigation ditches in their rice field at the old village of Wan Nang near
Nam Mawng stream, 5 miles south of Kho Lam. Slorc troops saw them while they
were working and arrested them. One of the brothers ran and jumped into Nam
Mawng stream, but was chased and shot dead in the water. The other was tied
up and beaten to death on the head with a heavy stick on the bank of Nam
Mawng stream.

        On 4.5.97, 7 villagers -- including Sai Thark Awn, 40, and  Zik Ta
Awn, 35 -- of Wan Nang village, Kho Ood circle which had been relocated at
Kho Lam, Namzarng township, each rode a bicycle and went back to search for
their cattle at the old village of Wan Nang. On their way back, they met
Slorc troops west of the deserted village of Ho Nar. The Slorc soldiers
seized all their bicycles and forced them to serve as porters. After 3
days, 3 of them were shot dead and ddumped into the Nam Mawng stream. The
other 4 had not returned even after 2 months. Though their families,
relatives and community leaders had made some inquiries and had asked for
the bicycles at the army base at Kho Lam, they could not find any of the
bicycles nor get any knowledge of the whereabouts of the missing 2
villagers. Slorc military authorities at Kho Lam have completely denied any
knowledge of it.

        On 7.6.97, a brother and sister, a 10-year-old boy and 12-year-old
girl, were tending their cattle in a field, one and a half miles west of
Kho Lam, Namzarng township. About 2 sections of Slorc troops came up and
some of them spoke Shan to the children. At first the soldiers spoke to
them tenderly and tried to lure them into the nearby forest. When the
children refused to go, they told the boy to return home in the village and
forcibly took the girl into the forest. Even after 10 days she had not yet
returned and no one knew whether she was dead or alive. She was the
daughter of Sai Wanna, 36, and Nang Mon, 35.

        On 14.4.97, 2 girls, 10 and 12 years of age, from Kung Zarn
village, Hai Lai circle, Namzarng township that has been relocated at Kho
Lam, were raped and killed by 12 Slorc troops from Kho Lam at Nam Naeng
stream, just one and a half miles east of Kho Lam.

        On 19.4.97, 2 women from Kung Kyawng village, Kho Lam circle,
Namzarng township, went to tend their farm south of Kho Lam. Before they got
to their farm, 7 Slorc troops raped and killed them on the way near the road.

        On 9.4.97, 4 women, a mother and her daughters, were going to
search for their cattle at a deserted village of Kung Yom, Hai Lai circle,
Namzarng township. They were drinking water from a stream near the old
village when Slorc troops came and shot dead all of them.

        In mid-April, 1997, 4 villagers from Mark Hard village, Hai Lai
circle, Namzarng township, were netting fish in Nam Wawng stream when SLORC
troops from Kho Lam found them. The soldiers called them out of the water
and shot them dead on the bank and took away all the fish the 4 villagers
had caught.
        Two days after that, 6 villagers from the same place went to look
for their cattle near an old village not far from Kho Lam. Slorc troops
from Kho Lam intercepted them on the way and arrested them. They shot dead 4
men near Wan Phui Nawng Kai near Kho Lam and took away the remaining 2 with
their hands tied. The bodies of the 2 men have not been found.

        On 4.5.97, Sai Nya Mon who had been moved to Nam Mo in Kho Lam,
Namzarng township, was permitted by Slorc troops to go and work on his farm
at his old village of Kun Sai. While he was driving his old bullock-cart
towards Kun Sai, Slorc troops from Nam Mo went after him and shot him dead
in a field near Kun Sai. The soldiers left the cart and took the oxen back
to Nam Mo where they killed them for meat.
        On 8.5.97, Slorc troops came to Nawng Kwai village, Kho Lam tract,
Namzarng township and shot dead 5 villagers, and took away their
belongings. Most of the victims were Palawng people.

        On 23.5.97, Slorc troops from LIB no.515 searched the old village
of Zik Ta, Murng Lerm circle, Namzarng township, and shot dead 5 villagers.
After that they searched for rice which the villagers had hidden in the
forest and took it away.

        In early June, since it was time to start rice cultivation, the
villagers from Kung Mao, Paeng Nim, Pa Kerm etc. which had been forced to
relocate along the motor road near Kho Lam, had asked for permission to go
and farm their lands at their old villages. Though Slorc authorities had
given permission to the villagers, Slorc troops from LIB no.515 and LIB
no.518, on 12.6.97, searched the areas near the old villages and shot at
everyone they found without asking any questions.

RAPE AND KILLING IN LAIKHA
	On 30.3.97, 2 women with a 2-year old child drove an ox-cart carrying rice
paddy, probably with an intent to sell to Palawng people. When they reached
Nawng Kaw village, Nawng Kaw tract, Laikha township, they met 15 SLORC
troops from Kho Lam. The 2 women were raped and shot dead. The child and the
cart were left alone in the forest while the 2 oxen were taken to Kho Lam
and killed for meat.

	On 30.3.97, a girl of 12 of Ho Pung village, Nawng Kaw circle, Laikha
township, was shot dead by Slorc troops from Kho Lam on a hay stack while
she was taking hay down to feed cattle in a field. When some of her
relatives heard the gunfire, they came to have a look and were stopped by
the soldiers. When they asked for permission to bury her body, the soldiers
said, "She must be kept like this as an example for you people of Shan State
to see, if you bury her you must die with her." It was found out later that
she had also been raped.

	On 20.3.97, when Slorc troops were forcibly moving the villagers of Nam Ha
village, Nawng Kaw circle, Laikha township, a man drove a mini-tractor
loaded with rice paddy towards Markok village. However, before it could
reach Markok, at a stream near Wan Kawn village, Hai Seng tract, Laikha, 7
Slorc troops from Laikha shot him dead and burned his tractor. He was about
18 years old.

	On 31.3.97, Slorc troops from LIB no.515 arrested 4 male-villagers who were
tending an onion farm near the temple of Wan Parng village, Wan Heng circle,
Laikha township. They accused the villagers of defying their orders by
refusing to move away and of having connections with the Shan Resistance.
They tied them up with ropes, beat them and forced them to answer their
questions. After a while, when the villagers could not tell them what they
wanted to know, they tied hay to the body and arms of one villager, set fire
to the hay and let him loose. They tied another villager to a post of a hut
and burned him with the hut. while this was being done, they forced the
other 2 villagers to watch and threatened to do the same to them if they did
not tell what they knew. They beat the 2 men several more times and finally
threw them into Nam Tawng stream east of Wan Parng.
	After the Slorc troops left the scene, the 2 villagers who suffered from
serious burns managed to free themselves and walked to their relatives at
Zalai village, 7-8 miles to the south. Though their relatives immediately
sent them to the hospital in Laikha, both of them died there shortly after. 
	One of the 4 victims was Sai Lao, 18, son of Loong Ing Ta & Nai Sa of Wan
Parng village, Wan Heng circle, Laikha township.

	On 9.3.97, Slorc troops from Laikha no.515 LIB went to force the villagers
of Kun Hoong, Tard Mawk circle, Laikha township, to move to the town. There
were 5 Palawng villagers who had moved their belongings out of the village
but were not able to move to town because of the shortage of carts or
tolagyi (mini-tractors) to carry them, and when night came they went back to
sleep in the village.
	At about 20:30 hrs., Slorc troops who were patrolling heard a dog's barks
and fired 79mm mortar shells into the village. The blasts hit all of the 5
Palawng villagers, killing Nang Seng (female) and Loong Zum (male) and
wounded the other 3, including 2 children (Nang Seng was a mother of 3 and
wife of Paw Sook).
	The next day, Slorc troops ordered a civilian "tolagyi" to carry the
wounded 3 to the town hospital, saying that they were helping the victims
of the rebels' shelling.

	On 13.4.97, Slorc troops from Laikha-based no.515 LIB arrested a villager
of Pang Tet Teo, a man of 60 named Loong La, near Nawng Ya Sai old village,
Wan Heng circle, Laikha township. He was arrested while he was tending a
small plot of onions in his farm. The Slorc troops accused him of supporting
the Shan Resistance and tortured him. They tied him up, beat him, rolled a
piece of bamboo on his shins and finally cut off his lips.
"Because of your stomachs and mouths, we have had no rest," they had said.
(meaning that they blamed the villagers for going out to find food, which
meant they had to follow them.)

VIOLATIONS IN MURNGKERNG
	On 16.4.97, Slorc troops from no.515 LIB dragged 3 men who were tied with
ropes to a place near Lao Ai bridge, north of Loi Lam village, Wan Long
circle Murngkerng township, and beat them to death. They then piled up the
bodies together with some dry twigs and branches and set fire to them. When
the villagers went to look at them, after the soldiers had left, the corpses
were unrecognizable.

	On 16.4.97, Slorc troops dropped 6 rounds of mortar shell into the Quarter
1 of Murngkerng town. One of the shells exploded in the compound of Kyawng
Kham temple and another one killed an ox. The others also caused a lot of
damage.

	On 19.3.97, Slorc troops robbed "Sirimangala" monastery at Nawng khoo
village, Murng Khun circle, Murngkerng township. Despite repeated protests
from the abbot, they took 48 viss of cooking oil (viss = 1.6 kg), 3 baskets
of rice, 12 baskets of paddy to feed their horses and 60 viss of groundnut.
	On 14.4.97, Slorc troops forced the villagers of Kun Pan, east of
Murngkerng, to provide them with 50,000 Kyat of money. All the money had to
be given not later than the next day.

	On 9.6.97, o8:00 hrs., Slorc troops from IB no.64 and LIB no.515 burned
down the monastery at Wan Pung village, Murng Yai circle , Kaesee township
and continued to search Kung Pek and Nam Mawng villages and shot at a
villager named Sai Pan Ta, 17, son of Loong Su & Nai Muay of Nam Mawng
village, Nawng Leo tract, Murngkerng township. Sai Pan Ta was hit in the
stomach and needed to be hospitalized. At the time of this report, he was in
critical condition at the hospital in Kaesee.

KILLING AND BURNING IN KAESEE
	On 22.4.97, Sai Nge, son of U Kyaw Than & Daw Thein Tin of Long Pu quarter,
Kaesee township, was shot dead by Slorc troops from no. 523 LIB near Pang Po
village on the road between Pang Ke Tu and Kaesee.
	The Slorc troops also burned down a rice mill near the village, belonged to
Loong Kyawng Seng and  was worth about 1,000,000 Kyat, on 25.4.97. Many pigs
were also shot and taken by them.

KILLING OF VILLAGERS CLOSE TO THAI BORDER
1.	On May 18, 1997, Slorc troops Maj. Aye Thant and his troops from Murngton
LI no.277 came into Wan Mawk Zali village, Mae Ken circle, Murngton township
(north of the Thai border crossing of Nawng Ook, northern Chiangmai
province) and arrested three young men in the village:
	1.	Sai Vi		21 years
	2.	Sai Vilarsa	24
	3.	Sai Saw Ta	25
	The Slorc troops accused them of being SURA soldiers. They tied them up
with rope, beat them, put them into sacks and submerged them in water
several times before killing them.

2.	On May 20, 1997, Maj. Kyi Aung and his troops from Murng Tar (north of
Piang Luang, northern Chiangmai province) came into Wan Huay Aw and arrested
the following villagers:
	1.	Loong Tan 	 	45 years
	2.	Loong Than Ou 		50
	3.	Loong Su		47
	4.	Sai Aw Ta		27
	5.	Sai Vi Zing Tar		25
	6.	Nang Kham		31
	Slorc troops accused these men of having given SURA food and Nang Kham of
having given news to SURA. They beat them and after 2 days they killed them.

3.	On 20.5.97, Slorc troops from no.277 LIB led by Maj. Aye Thant arrested 2
young men in the village of Mawk Zali, Me Ken circle, Murngton township.
	(1)	Sai Ti Mar, 18, son of Loong Sai & Nai Yaen.
	(2)	Sai Thun, 22, son of Loong Aw & Pa Lao.
	Slorc troops accused them of supporting the SURA (Shan United
Revolutionary Army). They tied them up, beat them, put them into sack and
submerged them in water many times until they were dead. They even arrested
the parents of the 2 villagers and detained them for 2 nights.
	The Slorc troops also tried to arrest Sai Saw Ya, 25, son of Loong Lek & Pa
Seng, but he was alarmed by the barking of dogs and managed to escape. So
they arrested his parents instead, and were released only after their
relatives paid 30,000 Kyat as ransom.

KILLING ON THAI SOIL
	After Thai Premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh visited Burma on 16-17.5.97, and
after Shan troops attacked Slorc troops at 2-3 points on Murngton-Pung Pa
khem motor-road in which some Slorc troops and civilians were killed, SLORC
troops from no.277 IB stationed at Pang Tawng check-point chased and shot
dead 2 men and 1 woman over the border on Thai soil, not very far from a
Thai Rangers' check-point. One of the dead men was Ai Saw, 40, from Laikha.


VILLAGERS FORCED TO GUARD ROAD NEAR THAI BORDER
	On May 5, 1997, Slorc Maj. Shwe Myint from LI no.65 ordered villagers in
the Murngton and Murngsart area to make huts at regular intervals along the
road from Murngton to BP1 (the Thai border crossing point at Nawng Ook).
Four people at a time had to take guard in each hut for a day and a night at
a time. They had to report if they saw any SURA troops crossing the road or
entering the area. If they failed to report this, they would be punished.

FORCED RELOCATION
	On 23.5.97, Slorc troops of LIB no.514 from Murngkerng forced the people of
several village tracts such as Wan Yab, Ton Pek, Ho Nar, Loi Yang, Nar Taed,
Tong Zu, Ham Ngai and Ho Khai to all move to Murngkerng town.
	People in Wan Phen and Nar Phen also had to move to Kaesee town.

On 1.6.97, Capt. Naw Win, head of Township Law and Order Restoration
Council (Murngkerng), issued a writen order forcing all the people in the
rural areas of Murngkerng to move close to the motor roads.
	The translation of the order:
			Date: 1 June 1997
			Ref: 367/317/TLORC(382)
(1)	All the villagers in Murngkerng township must move close to the motor
roads. No one must be far from the roads.
(2)	The movement must be completed within 8 days, from 1 June to 8 June
1997. Any villages or houses that fail to move will be burned down.
	No one must be permitted to cultivate their farms and fields.
		Capt. Naw Win
		Chairman (TLORC), Murngkerng

THE WHOLE AREA OF KAENG TAWNG FORCED TO MOVE
	On 26.5.97, Strategic Command commander Thein Thut at Kho Lam, Namzarng
township sent an order to Maj. Kyaw Than Win of Slorc no.66 IB who was
stationed with 50 troops at Ton Hoong Long relocation site in Kaeng Tawng
area, Murngnai township, to move all the villagers in the entire area to
towns such as Namzarng, Murngnai, Kunhing etc.
	On 28.5.97, Maj. Kyaw Than Win summoned 13 headmen in the area and told
them that another relocation was imminent and suggested that they go and
plead with Thein Thut for mercy so that they would not have to move. So, on
29.5.97, they went to see Thein Thut at Kho Lam who asked them if there were
any Shan rebels in the area. The villagers said that they did not see and
did not give any help to any rebels but there might be some in the area
because they often came across some foot tracks which they thought were
rebels'. Thein Thut then ordered the 13 village leaders to remain at Kho Lam
while he dispatched troops to search the area. Troops from 3 different
battalions -- 150 troops from Murngnai - based no.518 LIB led by Maj. Ba
Maung, 120 troops from Kunhing- based no.524 LIB led by Maj. Aung Than Thay
and 200 troops from Parng Long-based no.513 LIB led by Maj. Kyaw Thay Win --
were involved in the search.
	On 1.6.97, while no.524 troops were returning to Kunhing, they clashed with
some rebel troops at Kung Nyawng, Kun Mong village tract, Murngnai township.
The battle lasted for about 2 hours during which 17 Slorc troops were killed
and 5 wounded (later all died) while 1 rebel was killed with number of
wounded unknown. Four packed-horses of the Slorc troops were also killed.
	On 4.6.97, all the villagers in the entire Kaeng Tawng area were driven to
Murngnai, Kunhing, Namzarng and Larngkhur. No one was left in the villages
except for some villagers who were still hiding in the jungles near Nam Ma,
Nar Paw, Pa Kharn and Huay Yaen deserted villages which were close to the
Salween river.

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