NLD Statement 85 (translation)

[nldburma@xxxxxxxxxxx]

National League for Democracy
No:(97/B), West Shwegondine Road
Bahan Township, Rangoon

STATEMENT 85(7/99)(translation)

1.  Our information is that forced labour is demanded from villagers
living in the vicinity where the North-West military command (Na-Ma-Kha) has 
initiated a project for reclamation of 2000 acres of vacant and
virgin lands. The area being reclaimed is in Sagaing Division,
Yin-ma-bin township, south of the Mahu ridge near Alaungdaw Ka'thapa and is 
known as "Too-thone-sint camp".  One Captain Aye Lwin (Light Infantry 
Battalion No: 16) is in charge and operates from a base near Ka-myu and 
Paung-wa.

2. Villagers from Yin-ma-bin and Pa-le townships are forced to work five
times in gangs of 200 and at their own expense. Those who are unable to
do so have to pay Kyats one thousand each.

3. They are instructed to run and hide in the jungles at the sound of
helicopters and to come out of hiding to continue work after the
helicopters disappear and if such instructions were not followed the
threat is that they would be beaten, penalised, or made to do more
work.  Gang leaders instructed them to deny that they were on their way
to or from "forced labour" if questioned by army officers.

4.  Chickens, pigs and meat for consumption of the soldiers are forcibly
taken from the villages of Ka-paing, Ka-myu and Paung-wa  (operations
base).  Young village girls are insulted by insinuations and coarse
language. When drunk, the soldiers behave outrageously beating and
abusing the villagers.

5.  Our information is that over three thousand people from the village
tracts of  Ka-paing, Thee-gone, Kyat, Thamin-lat, Nyaung-gaing, Ta-wa,
Let-ka-bya, Mauk-loke, Sain-ya, Wa-yone, Sin-te, Inn, Yin-baung-taing
and Sin-swe, inYin-ma-bin township are forced to work without rest,
without payment, without medical care, in hazardous conditions (often
bitten by snakes).  Some have fallen ill and died and the survivors are
suffering tremendous hardship.

6.  It will be seen from the above that though the military is
initiating the land reclamation project, in its implementation, some
unprincipled officers and soldiers are exploiting the poor villagers
showing no fellow feeling and unashamedly bringing despair and hardship 
(physical and mental) to the people.

7.  We condemn such actions and ask that steps be taken to immediately
halt such activities.


Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy


Rangoon
30 June 1999.





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