Armed conflict in Karen State - military activities and their impact on village life, including livelihood, health, education and land tenure security

expand all
collapse all

Individual Documents

Description: "The Karen Women's Organization [KWO] strongly condemns the attacks by the Burma Army in Hrpuso township, Karenni State in which at least 30 refugees, including women and children, were burned alive. Deeply disturbing images of scorched bodies and charred remains on trucks that were set ablaze on Christmas Eve. Even during this holiday time of Christmas and New Year's, the people of Burma are being denied peace and safety in their homelands. In the regime's attempts to squander People's Defense Forces, innocent civilians are routinely and unjustly being taken as hostages and killed. KWO has witnessed similar assaults in Karen State including ongoing ground and air strikes. KWO extends our solidarity and support to the victims and their families in Karenni State. Our ethnic brothers and sisters are all too familiar with the brutality that the Burma Army is capable of. The people of Karen State continue to be forced to endure the oppression of the junta. Thousands of our people are stranded, and in urgent need of humanitarian aid. We have seen similar attacks being launched across the country which are routinely taking place with deeply ingrained impunity. Accountability for the atrocities being committed by the Burma Army are long overdue. The violence they are perpetuating is in violation of international law and constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Therefore, it is with utmost urgency that KWO calls for a global arms embargo and diplomatic pressure to ensure a referral of the junta to the International Criminal Court. International condemnation for the human rights violations is not enough. There must be concrete action to protect the lives of thousands who still remain in danger in Burma..."
Source/publisher: Karen Women's Organisation
2021-12-25
Date of entry/update: 2021-12-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 21.82 KB
more
Description: "In Myanmar, the terrorist military overthrew the civilian government and staged a coup d’e tat in February. The people’s mass protests have been viciously cracked down by the terrorist military, injuring and killing many people. At present, the people of Burma, with the rights to defend ourselves, are revolting all throughout the country against the military which has been ruling with violence for more than 70 years by means of arms. Ethnic organizations which have been fighting against oppression for years are now facilitating the revolution as well. Currently, the terrorist military is committing severe violations of human rights and crimes against humanity, such as arresting and torturing innocent civilians in villages and towns all over the country; using them as prisoners of war; making them into human shields; looting and destroying the properties of people; burning down entire villages and towns; torturing, carrying out mass killings and burying groups of innocent people; burning people to death; raping women and so on. Moreover, across the country, the terrorist military is continuously conducting aerial bombing attacks on places resided by innocent civilians. On the day before yesterday, the terrorist military council attacked with aerial bombings on innocent civilians in Kale, Sagaing Division and in Lay Kay Kaw Myothit, Karen State. Therefore, we, the Students’ Unions, support the following demands in order to stop the terrorist military from killing innocent people, committing crimes and violating human rights. 1. We, the Students' Unions, support the statement of the KNU (the Karen National Union) issued on December 20. We also call for the United Nations to quickly respond to ​the request numbered 5(b) in the KNU’s statement. 2. At present, because of the military’s excessive use of air strikes, lots of innocent people are losing their lives and are suffering the agony of war. In addition, many homes of the people are being destroyed. Accordingly, we urgently request for the nationwide designation of No-fly Zone in Myanmar..."
Source/publisher: 227 Students' Unions in Myanmar
2021-12-24
Date of entry/update: 2021-12-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf pdf
Size: 200.58 KB 1.65 MB
more
Description: "မြန်မာနိုင်ငံတွင် ဖေဖော်ဝါရီလ၌ အကြမ်းဖက်စစ်တပ်မှ ဒီမိုက‌ရေစီအစိုးရကို ဖြုတ်ချအာဏာသိမ်းယူခဲ့ပါသည်။ ပြည်သူများတခဲနက်ဆန့်ကျင်ဆန္ဒပြမှုများကိုလည်း အကြမ်းဖက်စစ်တပ်မှ ရက်စက်စွာအကြမ်းဖက်ဖြိုခွင်းခဲ့၍ လူပေါင်းများစွာဒဏ်ရာရအသက်ဆုံးရှုံးခဲ့ပါသည်။ ယခုလက်ရှိတွင် မြန်မာပြည်သူများသည် နိုင်ငံအနှံအပြားတွင် နှစ်ပေါင်း(၇၀)ကျော်ကြာ လက်နက်အားကိုးဖြင့် အကြမ်းဖက်အုပ်ချုပ်ခဲ့သောစစ်တပ်‌အား မိမိကိုယ်ကိုခုခံကာကွယ်ခွင့်ဖြင့် တော်လှန်နေကြရပါသည်။ နှစ်ပေါင်းများစွာဖိနှိပ်အနိုင်ကျင့်မှုကိုတွန်းလှန်နေသော တိုင်းရင်းသားအဖွဲ့အစည်းများမှလည်း တော်လှန်ရေးတွင် ပူးပေါင်းကူညီပါဝင်နေကြပြီဖြစ်ပါသည်။ လက်ရှိတွင်လည်း အကြမ်းဖက်စစ်တပ်သည် နိုင်ငံအနှံ့ရှိရွာများ၊ မြို့များတွင် အပြစ်မဲ့ပြည်သူများကို မတရားဖမ်းဆီးနှိပ်စက်ခြင်း၊ စစ်သုံ့ပန်းအဖြစ်အသုံးချခြင်း၊ လူသားတံတိုင်းပြုလုပ်ခြင်း၊ ပြည်သူ့ပိုင်ဆိုင်မှုများ ခိုးယူဖျက်စီးခြင်း၊ ရွာလုံးကျွတ်မြို့လုံးကျွတ်မီးရှို့ခြင်း၊ အပြစ်မဲ့ပြည်သူအုပ်စုလိုက်အား နှိပ်စက်သတ်ဖြတ်မြေမြှုပ်ခြင်း၊ မီးရှို့သတ်ဖြတ်ခြင်း၊ အမျိုးသမီးများကိုအဓမ္မပြုကျင့်ခြင်း စသည့် ဆိုးဝါးပြင်းထန်သော လူ့အခွင့်အရေးချိုးဖောက်မှုများနှင့် လူသားမျိုးနွယ်အပေါ်ရာဇဝတ်မှုများ ကျူးလွန်လျက်ရှိပါသည်။ ထို့ပြင် နိုင်ငံအနှံ့အပြားတွင်လည်း အကြမ်းဖက်စစ်တပ်သည် အပြစ်မဲ့ပြည်သူများနေထိုင်သည့်နေရာများကို ဝေဟင်မှ ဗုံးကြဲတိုက်ခိုက်ခြင်းများကိုလည်း ဆက်တိုက်ပြုလုပ်နေပါသည်။ယမန်နေ့၌ စစ်ကိုင်းတိုင်းဒေသကြီး၊ ကလေးမြို့နှင့် ကရင်ပြည်နယ် လေးကေ့ကော်မြို့သစ်တို့တွင် အကြမ်းဖက်စစ်ကောင်စီမှ အပြစ်မဲ့ပြည်သူများအပေါ် ဝေဟင်မှ ဗုံးကြဲတိုက်ခိုက်ခြင်းတို့ပြုလုပ်လျက်ရှိပါသည်။ သို့ဖြစ်ပါ၍ အကြမ်းဖက်စစ်တပ်သည် အပြစ်မဲ့ပြည်သူများအပေါ် သတ်ဖြတ်မှု၊ ရာဇဝတ်မှုများနှင့် လူ့အခွင့်အရေးချိုးဖောက်မှုများ မပြုလုပ်နိုင်စေရန်အတွက် အောက်ပါအချက်များအား ထောက်ခံတောင်းဆိုပါသည်။ ၁။ ဒီဇင်ဘာ(၂၀)ရက်နေ့ ကေအဲန်ယူ-ကရင်အမျိုးသားအစည်းအရုံးမှ ထုတ်ပြန်ကြေငြာချက်အား ကျွန်ုပ်တို့ကျောင်းသားသမဂ္ဂများမှ ထောက်ခံပါသည်။ တောင်းဆိုချက်(ခ)ပါအချက်အား လည်း ကုလသမဂ္ဂအဖွဲ့ချုပ်မှ အမြန်ဆုံးဆောင်ရွက်ပေးရန် တောင်းဆိုပါသည်။ ၂။ ‌ယခုအချိန်တွင် မြန်မာတစ်နိုင်ငံလုံးနီးပါး စစ်တပ်၏ အကြမ်းဖက်ထိုးစစ်ဆင်မှုများတွင် လေကြောင်းတိုက်ခိုက်မှုများအလွန်အသုံးပြု‌​ေသာကြောင့် အပြစ်မဲ့ပြည်သူများစွာ အသက်ဆုံးရှုံးခြင်း၊ စစ်ဘေးဒုက္ခရောက်ခြင်းတို့ ခံစားနေရပါသည်။ ထို့အပြင် ပြည်သူ့အိုးအိမ်များစွာ အဖျက်ဆီးခံရပါသည်။ သို့ဖြစ်ပါ၍ မြန်မာတစ်နိုင်ငံလုံးအတိုင်းအတာအနေဖြင့် စစ်ဘက်ဆိုင်ရာလေကြောင်းပျံသန်းမှုကင်းမဲ့ဇုန်အဖြစ်သတ်မှတ်ပေးရန် တောင်းဆိုအပ်ပါသည်။..."
Source/publisher: 227 Students' Unions in Myanmar
2021-12-24
Date of entry/update: 2021-12-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 1.98 MB
more
Description: "We reiterate our condemnation of the serious human rights violations committed by the military regime across the country. The recent attacks on civilians in Karen State, including the shelling of villages, are a violation of International Humanitarian Law and must stop. The attacks have resulted in thousands of people being displaced, who are now in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. We call on the regime to immediately cease its indiscriminate attacks in Karen State and throughout the country, and to ensure the safety of all civilians in line with international law. We echo the UN Security Council’s Press Statement from 10 November, calling for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need, and for the full protection, safety and security of humanitarian and medical personnel....စစ်အာဏာရှင်၏ နိုင်ငံတစ်ဝန်း ကျူးလွန်ထားသော ပြင်းထန်ဆိုးရွားသည့် လူ့အခွင့်အရေးချိုးဖောက်မှုများကို မိမိတို့ ရှုတ်ချကြောင်း ထပ်မံအသိပေးပြောကြားလိုသည်။ မကြာသေးမီက ကရင်ပြည်နယ်အတွင်းရှိ ကျေးရွာများကို လက်နက်ကြီးများဖြင့်ပစ်ခတ်ခြင်း အပါအဝင် အရပ်သားပြည်သူများအပေါ် တိုက်ခိုက်မှုများသည် နိုင်ငံတကာ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ ဥပဒေကို ချိုးဖောက်နေခြင်းဖြစ်ပြီး ယင်းလုပ်ရပ်ကို ရပ်တန့်ရမည်ဖြစ်သည်။ အဆိုပါ တိုက်ခိုက်မှုများကြောင့် ထောင်နှင့်ချီသောပြည်သူများ အိုးအိမ်စွန့်ခွာထွက်ပြေးနေကြရပြီး ယခုအခါ ၄င်းတို့အတွက် လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုအကူအညီများ အရေးပေါ် လိုအပ်လျက်ရှိသည်။ စစ်အာဏာရှင်အနေဖြင့် ကရင်ပြည်နယ်နှင့် နိုင်ငံတလွှားက အဆင်အခြင်မဲ့တိုက်ခိုက်ခံရမှုများ ချက်ချင်းရပ်တန့်ရန်နှင့် အရပ်သားပြည်သူအားလုံးကို နိုင်ငံတကာဥပဒေနှင့်အညီ ဘေးကင်းလုံခြုံစွာထားရှိရန် မိမိတို့ တောင်းဆိုသည်။ ကုလသမဂ္ဂ လုံခြုံရေးကောင်စီ၏ နိုဝင်ဘာလ ၁၀ ရက်နေ့ သတင်းထုတ်ပြန်ချက်အရ အကူအညီလိုအပ်နေသည့် ပြည်သူအားလုံး လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု အထောက်အပံ့ အပြည့်အစုံကို ဘေးကင်းလုံခြုံပြီး အတားအဆီးအဟန့်အတားမရှိဘဲ လက်လှမ်းမီရရှိစေရေးနှင့် လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုနှင့် ဆေးဘက်ဆိုင်ရာဝန်ထမ်းများကို အပြည့်အ၀ကာကွယ်စောင့်ရှောက်ပေးပြီး ဘေးကင်းလုံခြုံမှုရှိစေရေးအတွက် မိမိတို့ကလည်း ထပ်တူတောင်းဆိုလိုက်သည်။..."
Source/publisher: The Ambassadors, Chargés d’Affaires, and Heads of Mission from Australia, Canada, the Delegation of the EU and European Union Member States with presence in Myanmar: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden;
2021-12-24
Date of entry/update: 2021-12-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 16.04 KB
more
Description: "The Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN) is calling urgently for humanitarian aid and protection for over 10,000 villagers who have fled Burmese military attacks in the Lay Kay Kaw area of Dooplaya District, Karen State, half of whom have now crossed the Moei River into Thailand. The attacks began on December 15, 2021, a day after about 200 Burmese military troops raided the Karen National Union (KNU) controlled town of Lay Kay Kaw, south of Myawaddy, and arrested over 20 people, including a member of parliament and democracy activists who had taken refuge there since the February 1 military coup. When the Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the KNU, tried to protect people from arrest and torture, the Burmese military fired more than 100 artillery shells indiscriminately into the town and surrounding villages, damaging buildings and causing local residents to flee in terror. Attacks are continuing to this day. Lay Kay Kaw was established as a “New Town” in 2014 under the ceasefire agreement between the KNU and the Burmese military, with financial support from Japan’s Nippon Foundation. Tensions between the KNU and the Burmese military have been mounting in the area since September 2021, when the Burmese military troops began conducting raids in Lay Kay Kaw searching for democracy activists. This is the first major Burmese military offensive in this area of Karen State, which is under the KNU’s 6th Brigade, since the 2012 ceasefire. So far, over 10,000 people from Lay Kay Kaw and eight nearby villages have fled their homes. After trying to seek shelter on the Karen side of the border, about 5,000 have been driven by escalating attacks to cross the Moei River to seek refuge in Thailand. The Burmese military has been bringing in troop reinforcements and armoured personnel carriers from adjoining regional commands, and fighter aircraft have been flying over the area, instilling fear that aerial bombing will soon begin. It appears the Burmese military is planning to escalate attacks further, threatening the lives of local villagers. KPSN therefore appeals urgently to the Thai government to give protection and shelter to these new refugees and allow humanitarian aid agencies to access and assist them. We also urge Thailand to allow aid to be delivered to internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering on the Karen side of the border. KPSN strongly condemns this latest Burmese military aggression, in violation of their ceasefire pledges to the KNU and foreign peace donors. These donors should immediately cut funding for the failed ‘nationwide’ peace process and instead provide urgently needed humanitarian aid to displaced communities. Aid to IDPs should be provided cross-border through ethnic administrations and local community organisations, without informing or coordinating with the Burmese military which would jeopardize aid delivery. We call urgently for stronger international pressure on the Burmese military, including: 1. Imposition of a global arms embargo and sanctions on the supply of aviation fuel. 2. Targeted economic sanctions, including on gas revenue. 3. Deny legitimacy to the Burmese military and do not sign agreements with them for humanitarian and development aid. 4. Hold the military to account for their crimes, referring the situation to the International Criminal Court.....ကရင်ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးအထောက်အကူပြုကွန်ယက်မှ ကရင်ပြည်နယ်ရှိ လေးကေကော်မြို့အား တပ်မတော်မှတိုက်ခိုက်မှုများ ကြောင့် ထွက်ပြေးတိမ်းရှောင်နေရသော ဒေသခံ ပြည်သူ ၁၀၀၀၀ ကျော်အတွက် အရေးပေါ်လူသားခြင်းစာနာမှု အကူအညီ နှင့် အကာအကွယ်များ ရရှိရန် တောင်းဆိုလိုက်သည်။ တိမ်းရှောင်နေရသော ရွာသားများ၏ ထက်ဝက်မှာ သောင်ရင်းမြစ်အား ဖြတ်ကူးပြီး ထိုင်းနိုင်ငံအတွင်းသို့ ရောက်ရှိနေပြီဖြစ်သည်။။ မြဝတီမြို့တောင်ဘက်တွင်ရှိသော ကရင်အမျိုးသားအစည်းအရုံး၏ အုပ်ချုပ်မှုအောက်ရှိ လေးကေကော်မြို့အား စစ်တပ်မှ အင်အား ၂၀၀ ခန့်ဖြင့်စီးနင်းဝင်ရောက်ခဲ့ပြီး စစ်ကောင်စီမှ အာဏာသိမ်းသည့် ၂၀၂၁ ဖေဖဝါရီလ ၁ ရက်နေ့ နောက်ပိုင်းတွင် လာရောက်ခိုလှုံလျက်ရှိသော လွှတ်တော်အမတ်များနှင့် ဒီမိုကရေစီအရေးတက်ကြွလှုပ်ရှားသူများ အပါအဝင် လူပေါင်း ၂၀ကျော်အားဖမ်းဆီးပြီး နောက်တစ်ရက်ဖြစ်သော ၂၀၂၁ ဒီဇင်ဘာလ ၁၅ ရက်နေ့တွင် တိုက်ပွဲစတင်ဖြစ်ပွားခဲ့သည်။ ပြည်သူများအပေါ် မတရားဖမ်းဆီးခြင်း နှင့် ညှင်းပမ်းနှိပ်စက်ခြင်းမှ အကာအကွယ်ပေးရန် ကရင်အမျိုးအသား အစည်းအရုံး၏ လက်နက်ကိုင်တပ်ဖြစ်သော ကရင်မျိုးသားလွတ်မြောက်ရေးတပ်မတော်မှ ကြိုးစားလျက်ရှိသော်လည်း စစ်တပ်မှ လက်နက်ကြီး ၁၀၀ ကျော်ခန့်အား မြို့ နှင့် ၎င်းပတ်ဝန်းကျင်ရှိ ကျေးရွာများ အတွင်းသို့ ရမ်းသမ်းပစ်ခတ်ခဲ့သောကြောင့် အဆောက်အဦးပျက်စီးဆုံးရှုံးမှုများနှင့် ဒေသခံများ စိုးရိမ်ထိတ်လန့်စွာ ထွက်ပြေးတိမ်းရှောင်နေရသည်။ တိုက်ပွဲများမှာလည်း ယနေ့တိုင် ဖြစ်ပွားလျက်ရှိသည်။ ကရင်အမျိုးသားအစည်းအရုံး နှင့် စစ်တပ်အကြား အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေး သဘောတူညီမှုစာချုပ်အောက်တွင် ဂျပန်နိုင်ငံမှ နိပွန် ဖောင်ဒေးရှင်း၏ ငွေကြေးအထောက်အပံ့ဖြင့် လေးကော် မြို့သစ်အား ၂၀၁၄ ခုနှစ်တွင် စတင်တည်ထောင်ခဲ့သည်။ ဤဒေသအတွင်း စစ်တပ်မှာ လေးကေကော်မြို့အတွင်းသို့ ဝင်ရောက်ခဲ့ပြီး ဒီမိုအရေစီအရေးတက်ကြွလှုပ်ရှားသူများအား စီးနင်းရှာဖွေခဲ့သော စက်တင်ဘာလ ၂၁ ရက်နေ့ကတည်းကပင် ကေအဲန်ယူနှင့် စစ်တပ်အကြားတင်မာမှုများ မြင့်တက်နေခဲ့ပြီးဖြစ်သည်။ ၂၀၁၂ အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေးနောက်ပိုင်း ကရင်ပြည်နယ် ကေအဲန်ယူ တပ်မဟာ ၆ နယ်မြေ အတွင်း စစ်တပ်၏ ပထမဆုံး ထိုးစစ်ဆင်မှုကြီးလည်းဖြစ်သည်။ လက်ရှိအချိန်တွင် လေးကော် နှင့် အနီးပတ်ဝင်ကျင်ရှိ ရွာပေါင်း ၈ ရွာမှ ရွာသားပေါင်း ၁၀၀၀၀ ကျော်မှာ စစ်ဘေးရှောင် နေရပြီဖြစ်သည်။ ကရင်ပြည်၏ နယ်စပ်အတွင်းပိုင်းတွင် ရွာသားပေါင်း ၅၀၀၀ ကျော်မှာ ပုန်းခိုနေရလျက်ရှိပြီး နောက်ထပ် ၅၀၀၀ ခန့်မှာ ထိုးစစ်ဆင်မှုများကြောင့် သောင်ရင်းမြစ်အား ဖြတ်သန်းပြီး ထိုင်းနိုင်ငံအတွင်းသို့ ဖြတ်ကျော် ခိုလှုံနေရပြီ ဖြစ်သည်။ စစ်တပ်မှ စစ်လက်နက်ကြီးများ နှင့် စစ်သားများကို အခြားသေား နီးစပ်ရာ စစ်တိုင်းများဖြင့် အားဖြည့်လာလျက်ရှိပြီး တိုက်လေယဉ်များမှာ ဒေသအတွင်း ပျံသန်းလျက်ရှိရာ ဗုံးကြဲခံရမည်ကိုလည်း စိုးရိမ်မှုမြင့်တက်နေလျက်ရှိသည်။ စစ်တပ်မှ ထပ်မံထိုးစစ်ဆင်မည့် အစီအစဉ်များ မြင်တွေ့နေရပြီး ဒေသခံရွာသားများ၏ အသက်အန္တရယ်မှာလည်း ခြိမ်းချောက် ခံနေလျက်ရှိသည်။ ထို့ကြောင့် ကရင်ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးအထောက်အကူပြုကွန်ယက်မှ ထိုင်းနိုင်ငံအစိုးရအား ဒုက္ခသည်သစ်များ နှင့် ဒေသခံ ဒုက္ခသည်များအပေါ် ခိုလှုံခွင့် နှင့် လူသားချင်းစာနာမှုအကူအညီပေးနေသော အဖွဲ့အစည်းများမှ အကူညီများကို လိုအပ်သည့်နေရာသို့ ပေးနိုင်ရန်အတွက် အထောက်ကူပြုပေးပါရန် အရေးပေါ် တောင်းဆိုလိုက်ရပါသည်။ ထို့အတူ နယ်စပ် အခြားတဘက်ရှိ ကရင်ပြည်နယ်အတွင်းကျန်ရှိနေသော စစ်ဘေးရှောင်များထံသို့ အကူအများပို့ဆောင်ရာတွင် ခွင့်ပြုပေးရန် ထပ်မံ တောင်းဆိုလိုက်ပါသည်။ ကရင်ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးအထောက်အကူပြုကွန်ယက်မှ ကေအဲန်ယူ နှင့် နိုင်ငံတကာ ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေး အလှုရှင်များ၏ တောင်းဆိုမှုများအပေါ် လစ်လှူရှုကာ အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေးအားချိုးဖောက်ပြီး စစ်တပ်၏ ယခုအကြမ်းဖက် ထိုးစစ်ဆင်မှု အပေါ် ပြင်းပြင်းထန်ထန် ရှုံ့ချလိုက်သည်။ အဆိုပါ အလှုရှင်များမှ ကျိုးပျက်သွားပြီ ဖြစ်သော ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးဖြစ်စဉ်အပေါ် ထောက်ပံ့မှုများအား ဖြတ်တောက်ပစ်ပြီး ၎င်းအစား စစ်ဘေးရှောင်နေရသောပြည်သူများအပေါ် လိုအပ်သည့် အရေးပေါ် လူသားချင်းစာနာမှု အထောက်အကူပေးရန်ဖြစ်သည်။ စစ်ဘေးရှောင်များအတွက် အကူအညီများအား နယ်စပ်ဖြတ် ကျော်ပြီး တိုင်းရင်းသားအုပ်ချုပ်ရေးတာဝန်ခံများ နှင့် ဒေသခံ အရပ်ဘက်အဖွဲ့အစည်းများ ထံသို့ အကူအညီများ ပို့ဆောင်ရာတွင် အန္တာရယ်ပေးလာနိုင်သည့် စစ်တပ်အား အကြောင်းကြားခြင်း (သို့) ပူးပေါင်းလုပ်ဆောင်ခြင်း မပြုလုပ်ပဲ ဆောင်ရွက်သင့်ကြောင်း ကြံပြုအတိုက်တွန်း လိုက်ပါသည်။ စစ်တပ်အပေါ် နိုင်ငံတကာမှ ပိုမိုပြင်ထန်သော ဖိအားများပေးရန် အရေးပေါ် တောင်ဆိုပြီး ပိတ်ဆို့မှုများ အလျှင်အမြန်လုပ်ဆောင်ရန် တောင်းဆိုရာတွင် ၁။ ကမ္ဘာလုံးဆိုင်ရာ လက်နက်တင်ပို့ရောင်းချမှုပိတ်ပင်ရန် နှင့် လေယဉ်ဆီတင်ပို့မှုများအပေါ် ပိတ်ဆို့ရန် ၂။ သဘာဝဓတ်ငေ့ွမှရရှိသော ဝင်ငွေများအပါအဝင် စီးပွားရေးဆိုင်ရာပိတ်ဆိုမှုများအပေါ် ဦးတည်လုပ်ဆောင်ရန် ၃။ စစ်တပ်၏ တရားဝင်မှုအား လက်မခံရန် နှင့် လူသားချင်းစာနာမှု နှင့် ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေးအထောက်အကူပြု လုပ်ငန်းများအား ၎င်းတို့နှင့် သဘောတူ လက်မှတ်ထိုးခြင်းများ မပြုလုပ်ရန်။ ၄။ စစ်တပ်မှ ၄င်တို့ကျူးလွန်သော ရာဇဝတ်မှုများအပေါ် တာဝန်ခံနိုင်ရန်တွက် နိုင်ငံတကာ ရာဇဝတ်မှုခုံရုံးတွင် အခြေအနေများ တင်သွင်း လုပ်ဆောင်ရန်။..."
Source/publisher: Karen Peace Support Network
2021-12-23
Date of entry/update: 2021-12-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf pdf
Size: 87.46 KB 352.42 KB
more
Description: "European Karen Network today called on the European Union to impose a new round of targeted economic sanctions on the Burmese military, and agree to impose regular new rounds of sanctions from now on. As usual, it is ethnic people who are facing some of the worst human rights violations by the Burmese military since the coup. The majority of the 300,000 people displaced since the coup are from ethnic states. In Karen State, more than 70,000 internally displaced people have been hiding in the jungle since April, following bombing attacks which killed villagers and destroyed homes and schools. Since then jets and drones continue to fly over parts of Karen State every day, preventing people from returning home. This week the Burmese military has attacked Lay Kay Kaw town, in Dooplaya District (Myawaddy Township), Karen State. Arrests of democracy activists have been followed by indiscriminate shelling using heavy artillery, which is a war crime. More than 1,000 civilians are now fleeing from the area, and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. People who have already been displaced have been unable to grow this year’s crops, and are dependent on aid, but the Burmese military continues to restrict humanitarian access and international donors are not providing enough funding for food, shelter, medical care and education for children. Despite the fact that there are millions of people who can be reached with aid and Covid vaccines using cross-border mechanisms, this has only been happening in a very limited way. “There is much more that the European Union can do to cut the flow of money to the Burmese military, but while hundreds die and thousands are arrested, the EU is failing to use the economic leverage it has to promote human rights and democracy in Burma. Our Karen people and other people in Burma are doing everything we can to resist military rule, but the same cannot be said for the European Union,” said Nant Helen Buhtoo, Co-Chair of the European Karen Network. We call on the EU to bring in a new round of economic sanctions including: Gas revenue Revenue from extractive industries including copper and rare earths The Office of the Quartermaster General and other military bodies responsible for the purchase and manufacturing of arms Banks in Myanmar used by the military to earn and transfer revenue, such as the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank Sanctions on Burmese companies and individuals financing the military, or which are supplying the military with arms and equipment or facilitating the purchase of arms and other equipment. The European Union should also impose sanctions to prevent European companies supplying aviation fuel to Burma, and impose sanctions on Burmese companies supplying fuel to the military. “Reducing the air capacity of the Burmese military would be one of the single most effective short term things the European Union can do to help prevent further airstrikes against our people, and help reduce human rights violations and address the humanitarian situation on the ground,” said Nan Kyi Aye, Chair of the European Karen Network..."
Source/publisher: "Burma Campaign UK" (London)
2021-12-16
Date of entry/update: 2021-12-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Burma military airstrikes continue, and schools and homes are being destroyed as Burma soldiers shoot villagers in northern Karen State, with over 25,000 people in hiding. One villager, Saw Paw Chit, 40 yrs, was shot to death on 29 April by Burma Army soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 407, Military Operations Command (MOC) 8, commanded by Maung Kyaw Sein Lin, in Ku Chi Village, south of Papun. Deadly airstrikes using rockets, bombs and strafing cannon began in Karen State on 27 March 2021 and continued to 1 April and then started again on 27 April to now, 3 May 2021. We walked to the hiding places of the villagers who fled the first strike and met Naw Mu Wah Paw carrying her son in the jungle. He had been wounded by shrapnel to his face and neck on 27 March as he sat on his father’s lap when the first rockets and bombs came. His father was killed and his mother carried him to our medics, who treated him and removed most of the shrapnel. His mother told the story: “The airstrikes came in at night. There were rockets and bombs. I was outside the house and my son was sitting on my husband’s lap inside the house. There was a huge explosion and I ran to the house as bombs fell. My husband was covered in blood and staggered down the stairs holding our son. He handed our son to me and then fell down and died. Now I am hiding in the jungle here with his father, mother and sister. I miss my husband so much and the airstrikes keep coming to now,” said Naw Mu Wah Paw. We prayed with her husband’s parents as his sister wept silently under a tarp. Map includes some Burma Army airstrikes, artillery strikes and troop movements from 27 March to 3 May..."
Source/publisher: Free Burma Rangers
2021-05-03
Date of entry/update: 2021-05-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "With Myanmar’s military coup now three months old, there are few corners of the Southeast Asian country that haven’t been affected by its aftermath. Hundreds of thousands have revolted against the military’s action nationwide, but the armed forces have responded forcefully by detaining thousands and leaving more than 750 dead, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma. But in recent weeks, with mass street demonstrations waning, the uprising has entered a new phase in old territory, throughout Myanmar’s ethnic minority-held states. In Myanmar’s Karen state, officially Kayin state, conflict isn’t new. Like others, the country’s third-largest ethnic group has endured severe conflict for more than seven decades, largely over ethnically based hostilities. Additionally, fighting against Myanmar’s Tatmadaw armed forces has also been a long battle, but today a resurgent military is forcing the Karen to further defend their territory. A month ago on March 31, according to a report by Singapore broadcaster CNA, the junta, officially the State Administration Council, announced a one-month cease-fire across Myanmar. But according to Dave Eubank, the director of the humanitarian service group Free Burma Rangers, which operates in Myanmar, that promise hasn’t been kept, as attacks from the military have continued. “The Burma army said there’s a cease-fire. There is no cease-fire there,” he told VOA this month. Decades of animosity: The Karen National Union (KNU) is a political organization that says it represents the Karen people, who have their own unique languages, customs and administrative system. Myanmar, then called Burma, gained independence from Britain in 1948. Since then, the Karen have been in conflict with the central government over calls for independence and for a federal system to be implemented. Decades of animosity have endured between various ethnic groups, including the Karen, and the Bamar people, also called Burmans, the dominant ethnic group in Myanmar. But with the coup sparking huge anger throughout the country, there are signs that the military could eventually face a united opposition. The head of Foreign Affairs Department for the KNU, Padoh Saw Taw Nee, said it’s been a “dream” for all ethnic states within Myanmar to align, despite their differences, but he acknowledged it’s a complicated situation. “That is the future we dream for several years, but for it to come true, it’s very difficult,” he said. But for now, the spokesperson acknowledged that fighting back against the advancing military was a necessity. “According to our experience, there will be a way to support pressure to the government, the military way, and the political and social … all kinds of ways, with a need to push against the military," he said. "We need to push the military regime to the table for dialogue.” Padoh Saw Taw Nee said there had been more than “200 casualties” among the Karen as a result of “shelling with heavy weapons” from the military. “If you couldn’t tackle this issue very carefully, there will be kind of a civil war. ... There will be a lot of consequences to our country,” he added. Ground attacks within the Karen have been happening since the end of 2020, according to local reports.....Population fearful: Airstrikes and reconnaissance flights are instilling terror into the locals on the ground, inside sources have told VOA. Lieutenant Colonel Saw Kyi Kyaw of the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council told VOA that the organization’s mission was to “make peace” but that it would fight back if necessary. “We will not attack anyone, but if Tatmadaw starts attacking us, we will fight back to defend ourselves,” he said. In recent days, the Karen took control of a military outpost near the Thai-Myanmar border, according to a Reuters report. But when VOA spoke earlier this month to Saw Thuebee of the Karen Peace Support Network, a civil society group supporting vulnerable communities in the region, he said the Karen already were facing a humanitarian crisis because of the thousands of internally displaced people. Saw Thuebee called on Myanmar’s neighbor to help those in need. “We are hoping and requesting [that] the Thailand government launch the materials across the border so that we can continue to provide humanitarian assistance" to internally displaced people, he said.....Widespread hunger: The United Nations said last week that “millions” faced hunger in the country amid the violence. Myanmar was under military rule for most of its modern history until 2011. In last November’s general elections, the military claimed unsubstantiated electoral fraud. On February 1, the military removed the National League for Democracy government. Leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were detained and have since been additionally charged. The armed forces have been deployed to suppress street protests, while martial law has been imposed across the country. The junta has implemented daily internet shutdowns for the sake of the country’s “stability.”
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "VOA" (Washington, D.C)
2021-05-03
Date of entry/update: 2021-05-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Fighting between Myanmar's military and armed ethnic groups is moving so close to the border it can be seen from Thailand. While a leader from the Karen National Liberation Army says their small victories against the junta can help the country-wide push for democracy, it comes at a cost to people living near the border..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "CNN" (USA)
2021-05-01
Date of entry/update: 2021-05-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Thousands of ethnic Karen villagers in Myanmar are poised to cross into Thailand if, as expected, fighting intensifies between the Myanmar army and Karen insurgents, joining those who have already escaped the turmoil that followed a Feb. 1 coup. Karen rebels and the Myanmar army have clashed near the Thai border in the weeks since Myanmar's generals ousted an elected government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi, displacing villagers on both sides of the border. read more "People say the Burmese will come and shoot us, so we fled here," Chu Wah, a Karen villager who crossed over to Thailand with his family this week from the Ee Thu Hta displacement camp in Myanmar, told Reuters. "I had to flee across the river," Chu Wah said, referring to the Salween river that forms the border in the area. The Karen Peace Support Network says thousands of villagers are taking shelter on the Myanmar side of the Salween and they will flee to Thailand if the fighting escalates. "In coming days, more than 8,000 Karen along the Salween river will have to flee to Thailand. We hope that the Thai army will help them escape the war," the group said in a post on Facebook. Karen fighters on Tuesday overran an Myanmar army unit on the west bank of the Salween in a pre-dawn attack. The Karen said 13 soldiers and three of their fighters were killed. read more The Myanmar military responded with air strikes in several areas near the Thai border. Thai authorities say nearly 200 villagers have crossed into Thailand this week. Thailand has reinforced its forces and restricted access to the border. Hundreds of Thai villagers have also been displaced, moving from their homes close to the border, to deeper into Thai territory for safety. "The situation has escalated so we can't go back," said Warong Tisakul, 33, a Thai villager from Mae Sam Laep, a settlement, now abandoned, opposite the Myanmar army post attacked this week. “Security officials won’t let us, we can’t go back.”..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Reuters" (UK)
2021-04-30
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Fighting erupted between the Burmese military and a separatist group in the southeast of Myanmar, close to the border with Thailand. The ethnic insurgents, the Karen National Union, captured and destroyed an army post as part of their campaign to reduce the military's presence in Karen state, where thousands of people have been displaced by a resurgence of fighting..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "BBC News" (London)
2021-04-27
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Myanmar’s coup has brought war back to a remote Southeast Asian frontier after 25 years, sending a new generation of villagers in both Myanmar and Thailand running for their lives from bullets and bombs. Ethnic Karen insurgents and the Myanmar army have engaged in heavy clashes near the Thai border in the weeks since the Feb. 1 coup, when Myanmar’s generals ousted an elected government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi. The Karen and other autonomy-seeking ethnic minority forces based in frontier regions have supported the largely urban-based pro-democracy opponents of the junta, offering refuge to some, and tension with the military has boiled up into new fighting. Before dawn on Tuesday, Karen fighters attacked the Myanmar army's Thaw Leh Ta outpost on the west bank of the Salween River, which forms the border with Thailand as it cuts through steep, forested slopes on is way to the Bay of Bengal. "I've never heard gunfire like this, I've never seen people needing to flee like this," said Supart Nunongpan, 44, chief of the Thai village of Mae Sam Laep, a small river port of wooden houses and shops strung out along the Thai side of the Salween. The Myanmar army had held Thaw Leh Ta since 1995, the last time there was major fighting in the area when, after years of dry-season offensives, the Myanmar army captured the headquarters of the Karen National Union (KNU) guerrilla group, not far to the south. Divided and driven from most of its enclaves in eastern Myanmar, the KNU agreed to a ceasefire in 2012, ending an insurgency that began soon after Myanmar gained independence in 1948. Now war has resumed and the Myanmar military, equipped with more effective aircraft than it had 25 years ago, has launched repeated air strikes against KNU positions, sending some 15,000 villagers fleeing into the forest, with several thousand briefly seeking refuge on the Thai side of the border. Myanmar launched air strikes on Tuesday and again on Wednesday, with fighter jets and helicopters, Thai authorities on the border said. There was no word on casualties. About 100 villagers from Myanmar, most of them elderly, pregnant women or children, crossed to the Thai side on Wednesday to escape the air strikes, the Free Burma Rangers aid group said.....'STILL DANGEROUS': Hundreds of Thai villagers living too close to the border for comfort have also abandoned their homes and fled inland. One woman on the Thai side was wounded by a stray bullet on Tuesday, Thai authorities said. Thai villagers are sheltering in a school and a church in the settlement of Huay Kong Kad, a safe distance from the border. They think the fighting is far from over and it is only a matter of time before Myanmar's powerful military tries to take back the lost outposts. "I don't feel safe, it's still dangerous. I'm afraid of the air strikes," Amin, 40, another villager from Mae Sam Laep who goes by only one name, told Reuters. The Myanmar junta has not commented on the latest clashes but the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper blamed a rogue KNU brigade for the attacks, saying most of the KNU still backed the 2012 ceasefire. The head of foreign affairs for the KNU, Saw Taw Nee, rejected that as "nonsense", saying state media was trying to "divide and conquer". Thailand, which played host to more than 100,000 Karen refugees for decades, has said it wants to stay out of the latest surge of fighting but will provide humanitarian help if needed. For now, displaced Thai villagers wait. Several said they only dared slip back into Mae Sam Laep during the day to check on their homes, fearing more fighting at any time. “I’m afraid because we live on the border. The villagers are also afraid,” village head Supart said..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Reuters" (UK)
2021-04-29
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "တကီၢ်ခါတၢ်မုာ်တၢ်ခုၣ်တၢ်လဲၤကျဲအိၣ်ကတာ်ထီသးတၢ်ဂ့ၢ်အံၤခ့ၣ်အဲးစံၣ်ကညီတၢ်ကစီၣ်ထံၣ်လိာ်သံကွၢ်သံဒိးဒီးကညီဒီကလုာ်တၢ်ထူၣ်ဖျဲးသုးမုၢ်ဒိၣ်ခ့ၣ်အဲၣ်အဲလ်အ့ၣ်သုးရိၣ်မဲခိၣ်ကျၢၢ်(၂)သုးခိၣ်ကျၢၢ်စိ စီၤဘီကၠီၣ်ဟဲတဲ၀ဲဒ်အံၤန့ၣ်လီၤ..."
Creator/author: KIC
Source/publisher: KIC (Karen Information Center)
2019-01-03
Date of entry/update: 2019-03-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Sgaw Karen
more
Description: ''As the world observes the first International Day of Education, KHRG calls for urgent measures to be taken to ensure that all children in Myanmar can benefit from a free and high-quality education in their native language. Indeed, accessing education continues to be a challenge in rural areas of Southeast Myanmar. This situation contributes to the social and economic marginalisation of local people, further undermining the full enjoyment of their human rights and preventing them from stepping out of poverty. According to UNICEF, Myanmar has the second lowest youth literacy rate among ASEAN countries, which illustrates the failure of the government to meet its obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the country’s Constitution. Over the last years, the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement coupled with greater public investment have improved access to education in some parts of Southeast Myanmar. However, local children still lack comprehensive access to education materials and free, high-quality schools within a safe distance from their community. In parallel, educational fees and hidden costs further undermine the right to education for families facing livelihood and food security issues. Middle and high school education is particularly difficult to access due to higher fees and a lack of facilities in rural areas. Many villagers also remain displaced in refugee or IDP camps, which affects the quality and stability of their access to education. Sporadic armed clashes force others to temporarily leave their village, thus interrupting the activity of schools. KHRG also documented that trust in government teachers is undermined by cases of abuse against students, including sexual violence and corporal punishment...''
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2019-01-24
Date of entry/update: 2019-02-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
Format : pdf pdf
Size: 318.9 KB 120.28 KB
more
Description: "Myanmar is tentatively emerging from military rule and civil war. Embracing this opportunity, Salween Peace Park proponents argue for a sustainable alternative to megadams, strip mines, and top-down protected areas like national parks, all of which require the colonization of indigenous land. This flyer briefly (Karen and English language) explains the history, background, objectives, vision and components of the proposed Salween Peace Park initiative..."
Source/publisher: KESAN
2017-08-16
Date of entry/update: 2018-11-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 2.22 MB
more
Description: "Myanmar is tentatively emerging from military rule and civil war. Embracing this opportunity, Salween Peace Park proponents argue for a sustainable alternative to megadams, strip mines, and top-down protected areas like national parks, all of which require the colonization of indigenous land. This flyer briefly (Karen and English language) explains the history, background, objectives, vision and components of the proposed Salween Peace Park initiative..."
Source/publisher: KESAN
2017-08-16
Date of entry/update: 2018-11-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 720.7 KB
more
Description: THE KAREN STRUGGLE IN BURMA: "At a critical stage in Asia?s least reported but long-running separatist war, Martin Smith assesses the most recent offensive of Burmese government troops against the Karen rebels, and speculates on a possible outcome and on the implications for other ethnic minority rebel forces in Burma."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Inside Asia" June-August 1985
1985-08-00
Date of entry/update: 2018-02-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 1.01 MB
more
Description: "This detailed commentary examines ongoing militarisation in southeast Myanmar from 2014 to 2016. It includes villager?s perspectives on military presence in and near villages; ongoing rotation of troops, re-supply of rations, weapons and ammunition and the strengthening of existing bases; military trainings, unexploded ordance and remnants of war; landmines; ongoing skirmishes between armed actors and impact on villagers; extrajudicial killings, human rights abuses and threats by armed actors; land confiscations by armed actors; ongoing displacement and livelihood issues of communities as a result of militarisation and land confiscations. This commentary includes recommendations based on villager?s voices"
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2016-10-20
Date of entry/update: 2017-03-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English, Burmese
more
Description: "U Than Nyunt is a 57-year-old Karen refugee and the chief of a small rural village on the riverbanks of Moei. He grew up in a village near Belin in Mon State and was chosen to become the village chief during a time when Burmese military was employing Four Cuts policy. U Than Nyunt eventually couldn?t stand the military abuse anymore and fled to the Thailand-Burma border in 2003. He was again appointed the chief and led his villagers to build a thriving new village on the Burmese side of the border. Five years later, armed conflict forced them to abandon the village and flee across the river to Thailand. The villagers were scattered all over the border but U Than Nyunt was determined to bring them back together. He spent a year locating and collecting the villagers, finally able to bring them back to live in the same village. While U Than Nyunt speaks of their village on the Burmese side with great fondness and sorrow of a lost home, he doesn?t want to go back until there is genuine peace in the country."
Source/publisher: Burma Link
Date of entry/update: 2016-03-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "U Soe Myint is a 60-year-old Karen refugee who has struggled his whole life just to survive. Amidst deep-seated poverty, armed conflict and Burma Army abuse, U Soe Myint has had everything but an easy life. He had to work in a farm throughout his childhood, frequently hide from Burmese soldiers in the trees and the jungle in his adulthood, and finally flee to Thailand. U Soe Myint walked to Thailand through the jungle, knowing that he might step on a landmine any moment. For nearly 30 years, he was forced to live away from his wife and three children. While U Soe Myint was at last able to reunite with his family in Mae La refugee camp in 2006, his close family members are now scattered around the world, uncertain if they will ever be able to reunite. This is his story."
Source/publisher: Burma Link
Date of entry/update: 2016-03-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Shan Lay is a friendly, compassionate and dedicated young man from the Shan State who has sacrificed everything to fight for the freedom of his people. Growing up in the Shan State with a Karen mother, young Shan Lay was always interested in learning more about his Karen roots. But his mother didn?t speak the language and all he was taught at school was that ?Karen were rebels?. Somewhere deep inside, Shan Lay felt that there was more to the story. He witnessed firsthand the brutality of the government forces: Two of Shan Lay?s family members perished in the 8888 uprising, and when Shan Lay was a teenager, the Burmese military confiscated their family farm. Among other villagers, Shan Lay and his three childhood friends were forced out of their homes and left with nothing. A few years later, Shan Lay and his friends became freedom fighters on the Thailand-Burma border. Today, Shan Lay is the only one of them still alive. Despite the heartache, Shan Lay vows to never give up. Not until the country is free."
Source/publisher: Burma Link
Date of entry/update: 2016-03-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Noe Myint is a friendly and kind-hearted 46-year-old Karen man who grew up hiding in the jungle from Burmese military until fleeing to Thailand at the age of 12. Son of a soldier, Noe Myint joined the revolution in 1988 and has spent much of his adult life in the battlefield fighting alongside his school friends and his son. Out of his three children, two are still alive, one of them resettled in Australia and one living in Mae La refugee camp waiting to join her brother and other family in Australia. While their children are registered with the UNHCR, Noe Myint and his wife are not, and thus unable to reunite with their family in Australia. Read more to learn about the life of this soldier who has not only fought for revolution for over 20 years but also looked after a number of orphans who had no one else to turn to. Read more to learn about Noe Myint?s experiences with the UNHCR and resettlement, DKBA?s split from the KNU, Burma Army tactics, and refugee camp attacks. Find out why Noe Myint has great hopes for the future of Karen and how the international community can help the Karen and other ethnic people of Burma in their quest for peace and democracy."
Source/publisher: Burma Link
Date of entry/update: 2016-03-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Naw Woo doesn?t know her age exactly but she thinks that she is about 40 years old. She grew up in a small village in the Karen State, helping her parents make a living with hill-side plantations. Conditions were harsh and sometimes the villagers had little more to eat than rice with salt. Other times they had to substitute rice for bamboo shoot or anything else they could find in the jungle. The villagers also regularly fled from Burmese soldiers who came to their village with no warning, demanding porters and torturing and beating anyone who got caught running away from them. Naw Woo and other villagers lived in a constant state of fear, and many villagers lost their lives amidst fighting between Burmese and Karen soldiers. Eventually, Burmese soldiers burnt their whole village to the ground. This is her story of survival and hope."
Source/publisher: Burma Link
Date of entry/update: 2016-03-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Daw Hla Shin is a 70-year-old Karen woman from Win Tar Pan village in Bilin, Mon State. She grew up amidst Burmese Army abuse that only worsened after she married a Karen soldier. The villagers lived in constant fear of the Burmese soldiers, enduring torture, killings, and burnt homes and belongings. For Daw Hla Shin, things were even worse; the villagers tried to protect her but they were so afraid of the Burmese military that even her own parents refused to live with her, knowing the Burmese soldiers thought she was a spy for the Karen. She couldn?t even live in the village anymore. She had to stay away in the jungle. The villagers knew about that and they tried to protect her but there was not much they could do. Daw Hla Shin had nowhere to go. Having never attended school or had any connection to the outside world, Daw Hla Shin, nor her younger sister, had any idea that there would be any escape or that Thailand even existed. Both sisters lost their first husbands in battle against the Burma Army. What happened to them and where are they now? Read Daw Hla Shin?s story to find out more."
Source/publisher: Burma Link
Date of entry/update: 2016-03-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Below are excerpts of Karen Human Rights Group?s (KHRG) interview with Ma A—, a Karen villager who describes events occurring in her village in June 2015, including land confiscation, forced relocation, attack on a village and villagers, threatening, looting, arbitrary detention and threats to children?s right to education. The interview was conducted in Thaton District in July 2015 by a community member trained by KHRG to monitor local human rights conditions."
Source/publisher: Burma Link
2015-08-26
Date of entry/update: 2016-03-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Naw Mu Gay, 22, wanted to join the Karen army since a young age. Coming from a large family, Naw Mu Gay?s father found it hard to provide for everyone, having to work on a farm in order to exchange betel nut leaves for rice that was barely enough to feed his family. Attending a school far away from her village, Naw Mu Gay and her siblings had to live with their grandmother in Taungoo, seeing their parents only once a year during the school break. To help the family once her father fell ill, Naw Mu Gay had to drop out of school to work on a farm in the village. She and her family lived in constant fear of the Burma Army, often having to run to the jungle where the family would live in a broken tent, cooking only at night time when the smoke would not lead Burmese soldiers to their hideout. Naw Mu Gay grew up seeing her parents suffer amidst the conflict, and continuously having to run for their lives. This year, finally given the opportunity, Naw Mu Gay decided to join the KNDO (Karen National Defense Organisation), and says that she will rely on her fellow comrades to get through the difficult times that lay ahead."
Source/publisher: Burma Link
2015-10-05
Date of entry/update: 2016-03-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Kyainseikgyi Township, Dooplaya District between March and May 2015, including violent clashes between armed groups, injury caused by a landmine, and militarisation... On March 10th 2015, fighting broke out between Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #549 and LIB #231, and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) in A--- section, M--- village, lasting for around 30 minutes. KHRG is unable to confirm whether any villagers were injured during the fighting... On April 17th 2015, 31-year-old Saw B--- from D--- village was hit by a landmine which was purportedly planted by the DKBA. He sustained injuries to his feet but survived the explosion.... DKBA Battalion #901 established a new army camp in C--- village on April 25th 2015..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-11-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-12-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "This News Bulletin describes three separate incidents of fighting that occurred on September 30th 2015, between Tatmadaw and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) soldiers in Day Wah and Kyaw Pah village tracts, Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District. This includes arbitrary arrest and detention, violent abuse of a villager, restrictions on the freedom of movement, and displacement of villagers... The deputy commander of KNLA Company #4 reported that his soldiers engaged in a fight with Tatmadaw soldiers due to the Tatmadaw soldiers failing to abide by the ceasefire agreement and crossing over their delimited area... Following one of the skirmishes, Tatmadaw soldiers violently abused a 61-year-old male villager, accusing him of providing them with false information regarding the whereabouts of KNLA soldiers. They then arrested him and ordered him to follow them for one day before finally releasing him... Due to the fighting, approximately ten households in Meh K?Naw village, Kyaw Pah village tract temporarily fled to the area surrounding Myaing Gyi Nyu Town in Hpa-an District. At the time KHRG received this information, these villagers had not yet returned to their village... Following the fighting, Tatmadaw and Border Guard Force (BGF) soldiers set up a checkpoint on the vehicle road between Hpapun and Ka Ma Maung towns and stopped all cars in search of Karen National Union (KNU) members.[1]"
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-10-13
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 149.67 KB
more
Description: "This News Bulletin describes an incident in which the Burma/Myanmar government police force and Burma/Myanmar Department of Forest Management destroyed and burnt down 97 villager houses, displacing approximately 500 villagers in B--- village, Hpa-an Township, Thaton District in June 2015. Despite holding Karen National Union (KNU) issued land grants, villagers were ordered by the Burma/Myanmar government to move out of their village since the government demarcated the area as a forest reserve. However, villagers reported that this land was the location of their old village, which they had to leave behind in 1983 during altercations between the Tatmadaw and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). The villagers also noted that even though the government demarcated the land as a forest reserve, there are no big teak or ironwood trees there. In addition, businessmen from Hpa-an Town came and planted rubber trees and the Tatmadaw sometimes use the area for target practice. The Chief Minister of Kayin State, U Zaw Min, threatened villagers into signing a document stating they agree to dismantle their houses and would not live on that land anymore. In attempting to prevent the destruction of their village, villagers sought help from Saw P---, who attempted to advocate on their behalf, to no avail. When the villagers refused to dismantle their village, the Burma/Myanmar government police arrested 25 villagers, one monk and one KNU/KNLA-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) member and continued to raid the village, burning and looting villagers? houses, and planting teak trees. In the aftermath of the raid, approximately 100 villagers fled to Myawaddy with the help of Saw P---, since they do not dare to live in the village any longer. A KHRG researcher also interviewed one of the fleeing villagers and a full interview can be found here.[1] For an in-depth analysis of recent trends in land confiscation in southeast Burma/Myanmar see KHRG?s latest thematic report, ??With only our voices, what can we do??: Land confiscation and local response in southeast Myanmar..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-08-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format :
Size: 196 KB
Local URL:
more
Description: This Interview with Ma A--- describes events occurring in B--- village, Hpa-an Township, Thaton District in June 2015, including land confiscation, forced relocation, attack on a village and villagers, threatening, looting, arbitrary detention and threats to children?s right to education. "The villagers who lived in B--- village, whose ancestors lived there, and who had obtained the land titles to that land from the Karen National Union (KNU), had their village burned and looted by Burma/Myanmar police and officials from the Burma/Myanmar Department of Forest Management between June 22nd and 25th 2015, under the claim that it had been designated a forest reserve... Prior to the raid, on February 1st 2015, U Zaw Min, the chief minister of Kayin State, forced 15 villagers from B--- village to sign a document in which they agreed to demolish their houses and move elsewhere within seven days. This deadline was later revised to June 21st 2015 when the police came to B--- village... Ma A--- reported that on June 2nd 2015, around 50 police officers came into B--- village and arrested 25 villagers, including the interviewee?s husband and father, in addition to her younger brother, who had already been in jail for two months at that point. None of these villagers have been released at the time of writing. Other villagers have fled to the forest, monastery or their relatives? houses to avoid being arrested... While the police were demolishing the villagers? houses, they also looted the village, taking villagers? valuables and the goods Ma A--- sold in her shop... Following the destruction of the village, approximately 100 villagers, including Ma A---, fled to Myawaddy with the help of Saw P---... There are six school-age children in the group that fled to Myawaddy. Their newly built school in B--- village was also destroyed..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-08-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format :
Size: 196 KB
Local URL:
more
Description: "This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Kyainseikgyi, Kawkareik and Kyonedoe townships, Dooplaya District during the period between January and February 2015, including fighting between armed groups and updates on education and healthcare... On February 27th 2015, fighting broke out between the Tatmadaw and the Border Guard Force (BGF) against General San Aung?s group from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA). It resulted in the deaths of four soldiers, including one soldier from the Tatmadaw, two from the BGF, and one from the DKBA... Villages in Kyainseikgyi Township report needing Karen language textbooks in order to teach their students properly... Local shopkeepers are owed money by road constructors from the Burma/Myanmar government who borrowed money from them during the construction process and have not repaid their debt..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-08-14
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 289.76 KB
more
Description: "This News Bulletin describes events occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District in June 2015, including explicit threats and the indiscriminate firing of small arms and mortars by Border Guard Force (BGF) soldiers. The first incident took place on June 13th 2015, when the soldiers of Htoo Lwe Baw Company from BGF Battalion #1015 shelled mortars and fired small arms into P--- place, in G--- village, injuring villagers? livestock and damaging their rubber plantations. The second incident was perpetrated by Second Lieutenant Tha Beh from BGF Battalion #1014, who on June 17th 2015 threatened to kill one or two villagers for allegedly supporting the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). The villagers fear the BGF soldiers because they have previously committed numerous abuses toward the villagers in the area and continue to threaten their lives and livelihoods both physically and verbally.[1]..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-08-06
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 253.88 KB
more
Description: "This News Bulletin describes recent fighting between Tatmadaw and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) soldiers, which has led to killings and displacement of villagers in Hlaingbwe Township, Hpa-an District, in July 2015. On July 6th 2015, Tatmadaw soldiers attacked a DKBA camp near Waw Poo Bridge in Meh Th?Waw village, Hlaingbwe Township. On that day, two villagers were shot and killed by Tatmadaw soldiers whilst travelling on the road where the Tatmadaw soldiers had taken up position for fighting. The relatives of the two villagers tried to retrieve the bodies, but the Tatmadaw soldiers did not allow them to do so at the time. The relatives were permitted to retrieve the bodies several days later.[1]"
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-08-03
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 340.42 KB
more
Description: "This News Bulletin describes events in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District, including killing, violent abuse and restrictions on freedom of movement, as well as recent fighting between Border Guard Force (BGF) and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) soldiers, following increased BGF activity in the area. The first incident involved a villager who was shot and killed by a BGF private from Battalion #1013, while he was travelling at night time. The second incident involved a villager who was beaten until he was unconscious by BGF Battalion #1014 2nd Lieutenant Tha Beh. The villager was accused of contacting and being supportive of KNLA soldiers. In response to recent BGF activity, the Karen National Union (KNU) further imposed restrictions on villagers? freedom of movement with the intention of catching BGF forces in the villager restricted areas."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-07-07
Date of entry/update: 2015-07-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 180.22 KB
more
Description: "This Photo Set shows Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #310 conducting heavy weapons target training and its consequences, including the destruction of villagers? crops and rubber plantations in Win Yay Township, Dooplaya District in January 2015. Villagers report that the Tatmadaw have carried out heavy weapons target training in the area before, but this time is different as there are more soldiers and this is the first time they have conducted night time target practice."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-06-05
Date of entry/update: 2015-07-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Villagers in Karen areas of southeast Myanmar continue to face widespread land confiscation at the hands of a multiplicity of actors. Much of this can be attributed to the rapid expansion of domestic and international commercial interest and investment in southeast Myanmar since the January 2012 preliminary ceasefire between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Myanmar government. KHRG first documented this in a 2013 report entitled ?Losing Ground?, which documented cases of land confiscation between January 2011 and November 2012. This report, ?With only our voices, what can we do??, is a follow up to that analysis and highlights continued issue areas while identifying newly documented trends. The present analysis assesses land confiscation according to a number of different factors, including: land use type; geographic distribution across KHRG?s seven research areas; perpetrators involved; whether or not compensation and/or consultation occurred; and the effects that confiscation had on local villagers. This report also seeks to highlight local responses to land confiscation, emphasising the agency that individuals and communities in southeast Myanmar already possess and the obstacles that they face when attempting to protect their own human rights. By focusing on local perspectives and giving priority to villagers? voices, this report aims to provide local, national, and international actors with a resource that will allow them to base policy and programmatic decisions that will impact communities in southeast Myanmar more closely on the experiences and concerns of the people living there."..... Toungoo (Taw Oo) District... Hpa-an District... Dooplaya District... Hpapun (Mutraw) District... Mergui-Tavoy District... Thaton (Doo Tha Htoo) District... Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District...
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-06-30
Date of entry/update: 2015-07-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English, Karen and Burmese
Format : pdf pdf pdf pdf pdf pdf pdf
Size: 5 MB 5.54 MB 2.81 MB 2.75 MB 2.67 MB 613.66 KB 949.09 KB
more
Description: "This Interview with Naw A--- describes events occurring in Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District in March 2015, including arbitrary arrest and detention, violent abuse of a villager, restrictions on the freedom of movement and arbitrary taxation: On the night of March 10th 2015, an unknown armed group attacked a Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) group that calls itself the Na Ma Kya group, or ?Deaf Ear?. One of their soldiers was killed in the attack. After the fighting, on March 11th 2015, the Na Ma Kya group temporarily closed a portion of the Asia Highway. Saw B---, unaware of the closure, was detained and violently abused by two Na Ma Kya soldiers as he was stopped at the checkpoint. The interviewee also reports that the Tatmadaw arbitrarily taxes cars 1,000 (US $0.96) or 2,000 kyat (US $1.93) each when they travel on the Kyauk Ka Ba road."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-04-29
Date of entry/update: 2015-06-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 337.68 KB
more
Description: "This News Bulletin describes event occurring in Lu Thaw Township, Hpapun District in February 2015. On February 17th 2015, Burma/Myanmar Tatmadaw troops indiscriminately fired artillery shells towards a location where villagers were clearing vegetation for hill field farming in Saw Muh Plaw village tract, Lu Thaw Township. Again, on February 22nd 2015, villagers reported that Tatmadaw troops fired shells toward villagers preparing hill fields for farming in Hkay Hpoo village tract, Lu Thaw Township. Both Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) #543 and #410 are based nearby, however villagers are uncertain which battalion fired the shells. Although no villagers were injured, they report being afraid to continue clearing hill fields for planting season."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-03-02
Date of entry/update: 2015-03-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English and Burmese
Format : pdf pdf
Size: 203.05 KB 61.17 KB
more
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Hlaingbwe, Nabu, Paingkyon and Hti Lon townships, Hpa-an District during the period between May and July 2014, including destruction of villagers? farm land due to road construction and drug awareness and eradication efforts carried out by armed groups... Burma/Myanmar government road construction, planned from Hlaingbwe town to Meh T?Waw village, damaged parts of villagers? farm land. No compensation for the loss of land has been provided... From May 21st to May 25th 2014, the Tatmadaw, Karen National Union (KNU), Democratic Karen Benevolence Army (DKBA), Border Guard Force (BGF) and Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army - Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) collaborated to conduct several meetings throughout Hpa-an District to promote drug awareness... On June 23th 2014, the KNU, BGF and Tatmadaw collaborated to destroy more than 200 kratom plants in Hti Lon Township."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2015-03-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 165.34 KB
more
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Kawkareik, Kyainseikgyi, and Kyonedoe townships, Dooplaya District between May and October 2014, including cases of theft and looting, shooting and arbitrary arrest and detention... On May 7th 2014, Infantry Battalion (IB) #32 confiscated and looted villagers? property in Kawkareik Township. Although villagers reported it to the IB #32 battalion commander, no action was taken against the perpetrators... On October 9th 2014, 25-year-old Saw D--- from A--- village was shot at by soldiers from Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #283 while returning by motorcycle to his village from Kyaikdon town. He was not injured during the incident... On October 12th 2014, a Tatmadaw soldier arrested two Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) soldiers and one villager. The community does not know what has happened to the villager."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-02-02
Date of entry/update: 2015-03-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 875.12 KB
more
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Shwegyin Township, Nyaunglebin District during the period between March and June 2014, including military activities, mining, education, healthcare, and restrictions on freedom of movement... Since the ceasefire, there are still issues in Shwegyin Township area. Civilians are still worried about human rights violations however the ceasefire has allowed for greater freedom of movement. Mining has become an issue with the river being slowly destroyed and polluted... The report shows that children are being hired by Kaw Ghay Htoo to construct a road regardless of their age which includes tasks unsuitable for children. The children, who were seen working on the construction of the road on March 9th 2014, were not informed that they were too young to be carrying out these kinds of jobs and are therefore being taken advantage of by their employers... The increased presence of Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #440 and #350 and Infantry Battalion (IB) #30 in Shwegyin Township has caused villagers to become fearful of carrying out their daily activities, as well as restricting the amount of freedom they feel they have to move around the area."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-01-29
Date of entry/update: 2015-03-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 181.05 KB
more
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bilin, Thaton, Kyaikto and Hpa-an townships, Thaton District during the period between September to November 2014, including armed groups? activities, forced labour, restrictions on the freedom of movement, development activities and access to education... On October 7th 2014, Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1014 Company Commander Tin Win from Htee Soo Kaw Village ordered A---, B---, C--- and D--- villagers to work for one day. Ten villagers had to cut wood, bamboo and weave baskets to repair the BGF army camp in C--- village, Hpa-an Township... In Hpa-an Township, two highways were constructed at the beginning of 2013 and one highway was constructed in 2014. Due to the construction of the road, villagers who lived nearby had their land confiscated and their plants and crops were destroyed. They received no compensation, despite reporting the problem to Hpa-an Township authorities... In the academic year of 2013-2014 more Burmese government teachers were sent to teach in Karen villages. Villagers are concerned as they are not allowed to teach the Karen language in the schools."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-02-10
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 2.53 MB
more
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Thandaunggyi Township and Htantabin Township, Toungoo District in November 2014, and includes issues of land confiscation, violent abuse, ongoing militarisation and fighting among armed groups... This report describes land confiscation for the purpose of road construction for regional development, building hotels, natural resource extraction, the extension of military camps and agricultural projects. As a result, villagers have experienced displacement, unemployment and are more vulnerable to human trafficking. Villagers were not compensated for their land... Villagers have taken advantage of new Burma/Myanmar government transparency initiatives, gaining information from the land administration office and cooperating with non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The Karen National Union (KNU) also completed new land surveys... Saw A--- was violently abused by Tatmadaw soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #590 and needed medical attention to treat his wounds."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-02-20
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 881.17 KB
more
Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bilin and Hpa-an townships, Thaton District during the period between June to November 2014, including forced recruitment, arbitrary taxation, ongoing militarisation and non-governmental organisation (NGO) activity... On June 4th 2014, the Thaung Kyan Thu Hsa Kyin Yay A Pwe (Tha Ka Hsa Hpa) anti-insurgency group led by Moe Nyo forcibly recruited soldiers in Bilin Township. Villages in four village tracts were required to provide recruits based on the number of households in the village... Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1014, which is based in Hpa-an Township, have three army camps which arbitrarily demand tax from cow and buffalo traders. These BGF camps are Law Poo, Meh Poo and Pah Paw army camps... Since the ceasefire, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Save the Children and Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ) are entering Bilin and Hpa-an townships and implementing local development projects. Most of the projects involve building schools and clinics, providing solar panels, as well as providing access to a water supply."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2015-02-23
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 2.49 MB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Kyainseikgyi, Kawkareik and Kyonedoe townships, Dooplaya District during the period between October 2013 and January 2014, and includes information regarding ongoing militarisation and forced labour; the environmental and other impacts of mining and rubber tree cultivation; education; and drug-related sexual violence: Beginning on November 11th 2013, during a troop rotation, Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion #545 ordered S--- villagers to transport materials using their own tractors; villagers were forced to do this work without pay or the provision of food, but money for gasoline was provided... Coal and stone mining projects led to deforestation, the pollution of water sources used for drinking and bathing and to skin and lung problems... Villagers raised concerns regarding drug problems leading to killings, rape and sexual harassment. A disabled girl in W--- was raped by a man under the influence of drugs and subsequently became pregnant. A court case was filed and ended with a decision from the court sentencing the perpetrator to a jail term.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-07-08
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 807.01 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Dwe Lo Township, Hpapun District during January and February 2013, including forced labour, arbitrary taxation, land confiscation, negative impacts of gold mining and an overall update on access to healthcare, education and livelihoods:- Tatmadaw IB #96 soldiers continue to force villagers to work; four villagers are required to carry materials for the soldiers each month... Villagers were coerced, including by a member of the Federal Trade Union of Kawthoolei (FTUK), to sell their land to be used in gold mining projects. Villagers reported environmental destruction and health concerns related to the impacts of gold mining... Increasing presence of KNLA checkpoints around gold mining sites has led to an increase in taxes for area villagers, but also to a decrease in the presence of Tatmadaw forces... Fewer human rights violations and a general improvement in access to land and freedom of movement were reported.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-07-01
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 627.35 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Kyonedoe Township, Dooplaya District between January and June 2014, including military activity, arbitrary taxation, education, NGO activity, healthcare and villagers? livelihoods: Expanding rubber plantations are decreasing the amount of free forest areas for villagers and livestock to use. Villagers use these forested areas to obtain food, bamboo and firewood... Many Burma/Myanmar government clinics in Kyonedoe Township do not have enough medicine and villagers with serious health issues must go to the nearest hospital where they have to pay higher fees for treatment, medicine and electricity and water usage. They must also bring their own bedding when receiving treatment at Burma/Myanmar government hospitals in Kyonedoe Township... Villagers raised their concerns that officers in Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1021, situated in No Lon village, are involved in gambling and arbitrarily tax gambling business owners.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-09-11
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 463.47 KB
more
Description: This Incident Report describes events occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District, including forced labour and violent abuse committed against villagers, by Saw Tha Beh, 2nd Lieutenant of Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1014, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Maung Chit: 2nd Lieutenant Saw Tha Beh, of the BGF, setup military and logging camps around three villages, and forced villagers to transport wood using their ox-carts and cars, without pay... Villagers who refused to participate were verbally abused and beaten; in response a number of them fled to other villages in the area.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-08-28
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 222.86 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District between February and July 2014. During this period, local villagers reported challenges in securing their livelihoods following a poor harvest, information regarding access to healthcare, community efforts to establish a school, allegations of corruption against the Burma/Myanmar government and frustration with a lack of support from the Karen National Union (KNU).
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-09-25
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 246.11 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District during the period between November 15th 2013 and February 15th 2014, including violent abuse and tax demands by Second Lieutenant Hpah Tha Beh, also known as Saw Tha Beh, of Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion #1014: On December 30th 2013, soldiers from BGF Battalions #1013 and #1014 who were under the influence of drugs threatened a villager by pointing guns at him... On January 13th 2014, Second Lieutenant Hpah Tha Beh violently abused a villager after accusing him of failing to pay taxes demanded by the BGF, breaking the villager?s arm and demanding 300,000 kyat from him... During the reporting period, the Tatmadaw supplied and repaired army camps.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-09-26
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 183.75 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Mone Township, Nyaunglebin District during the period between November 2013 and January 2014, including military activities, villagers? livelihoods, education, obstacles to free religious practice, healthcare and freedom of movement: The preliminary ceasefire agreement signed in January 2012 has had a positive impact, leading to a reduction in attacks by the Tatmadaw, but military activity such as the manning of checkpoints during the transportation of rations and troops along roads used by villagers is still on-going in some areas. On January 20th 2014, a Tatmadaw soldier pointed a gun at a group of villagers as they travelled home from a shopping trip to Kyaukkyi town... Villagers have reported fewer restrictions placed on their freedom of movement since the ceasefire. However, the Karen National Union placed travel restrictions on local villagers, insisting that they were not allowed to travel freely without permission letters. The Tatmadaw questioned villagers as they travelled past Tatmadaw checkpoints and army camps, with villagers from Hpapun District facing more questioning than villagers from other districts... Villagers report feeling freer to carry out agricultural livelihood activities due to a reduction in military activity, but some villagers faced food shortages after their paddy fields were damaged by excessive rain... Displaced people built a primary school, which they also use as a place of worship, as their original church was burned down by the Tatmadaw in the past.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-07-29
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 692.3 KB
more
Description: This News Bulletin describes forced labour and violent abuse perpetrated by Saw Tha Beh, a 2nd Lieutenant of BGF Battalion #1014 in Hpapun District, where local villagers reported being forced to transport wooden planks in support of a logging operation in the forest close to M--- village. Those who were unable to provide labour had their own wood confiscated and faced beatings. In order to avoid forced labour, most of the village?s inhabitants fled to other villages.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-09-10
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 159.26 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Hlaingbwe Township, Hpa-an District in 2013 and 2014, including villagers? livelihoods, development projects, migration, landmines and Tatmadaw militarization: A Japanese non-governmental organization (NGO) entered Hlaingbwe Township and built a number of schools and hospitals, but villagers expressed concerns that their children did not have the opportunity to learn their own Karen language in the schools... A number of villagers who live on the Thai-Burma/Myanmar border have returned to their villages to work on their fields, but they are concerned about old landmines which were planted by the Tatmadaw... Villagers expressed that they are not confident in the ceasefire process, mainly due to the fact that the Tatmadaw has continued to engage in activities which local villagers perceive as preparations for further conflict throughout Hlaingbwe Township...
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-10-29
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 153.79 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Paingkyon Township, Hpa-an District in July 2014, including access to healthcare and education, development projects, land confiscation and arbitrary taxation: The Burma/Myanmar government built clinics in several villages in Paingkyon Township, however villagers reported that these clinics do not have enough medicine and that patients are sometimes treated with expired medicine... The Burma/Myanmar government also built schools in several villages and staffed them with Burmese/Myanmar government teachers. Villagers must find and hire Karen speaking teachers on their own, in order for the Karen language to be taught in school... Border Guard Force (BGF) Officer Kya Aye confiscated uncultivated land from villagers in A---village, which he then measured into small plots and sold back to the villagers... Villagers reported being subject to arbitrary taxation and demands for food and guiding by the Karen National Union (KNU, however they were not requested to porter... Villagers also reported being subject to arbitrary taxation by other armed groups in the area, including the Tatmadaw, BGF and Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army? Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC)...
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-10-28
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 164.35 KB
more
Description: This Interview with U A--- describes events occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District, between November 2013 and January 2014, including forced labour, arbitrary taxation, land confiscation, violent abuse and explicit threats toward villagers: The interviewee reports that BGF Officer Tha Beh forces villagers to log, split and porter wood, as well as to make bricks for him. Furthermore, women and children are also required to work for him... The interviewee describes an incident in which several tons of his and other villagers wood was confiscated by Officer Tha Beh. The interviewee and other villagers were summoned to see Officer Tha Beh who then punched and hit them. They do not know why Officer Tha Beh violently abused them... After complaints were made to Officer Tha Beh regarding his abusive behaviour by a village elder, U A---?s forest land was confiscated. Officer Tha Beh threatened to cut off U A---?s head in front of his fellow villagers if he dared to log in the forest area that was confiscated. U A--- has fled his village out of fear of Officer Tha Beh.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-10-13
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 235.98 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District during the period between January 2014 to June 2014, including arbitrary taxation, violent abuse, militarisation, forced labour and access to healthcare and education: Villagers report being subjected to arbitrary taxation by armed groups, such as the Tatmadaw and Border Guard Force (BGF), as well as the Karen National Union (KNU), when travelling by boat or car... Officer Tha Beh from BGF Battalion #1014 violently abused a village head, punching and hitting him. Officer Tha Beh?s soldier shot another village head in the hand after Officer Tha Beh learned they had summoned a villager on behalf of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-12-03
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 218.35 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Kyaukkyi Township, Nyaunglebin District in 2014, including Tatmadaw militarisation, villagers? livelihoods and access to health and education: Villagers? livelihoods in highland and lowland areas in Kyaukkyi Township are described... In 2014, the Tatmadaw has begun to increase the amount of rations it is transporting through Kyaukkyi Township, using 60 to 70 trucks per trip, as opposed to 40 to 50 trucks per trip in 2013... The Burma/Myanmar government has begun building a new school and clinic in Mu Theh village...
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-10-09
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 223.58 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Hpa-an Township, Thaton District between January and June 2014, including the activity of military actors, infrastructure and industrial development activities conducted by private companies, non-governmental organisations (NGO) activities, education and healthcare: Battalion #1014 of the Border Guard Force (BGF) built a military camp in Hpah Paw village, Weh Pyah village tract on February 4th 2014... The Soe Naing Phyo Company had intended to build a cement factory in Meh Ka Raw village, but after negotiations with local Karen National Union (KNU) authorities the project was halted due to objections from local villagers. Similarly, the Mi Zaing Taung Company had a plan to build hospitals and schools in some mountain villages, but after consulting the KNU were not granted permission to proceed with the construction... Villagers reported a lack of coordination between the Burma/Myanmar government and KNU affiliated local authorities? efforts to provide education services in the district... Poor coordination was also reported in the healthcare sector, as government health care workers came into conflict with NGO staff engaged in the distribution of medicine to local communities.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-10-30
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 202.23 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bilin Township, Thaton District during May 2014, including information regarding healthcare, education and villagers? livelihoods. In Bilin Township there are three clinics that were established by the Karen National Union (KNU); Ta Meh Hkee, Ta Meh Hta and Meh Naw Ther, which mostly provide healthcare to villagers from the upper part of Bilin Township. However, these clinics are not able to treat all illnesses, in which cases villagers must travel to nearby towns for treatment. In Bilin Township there are two high schools, one of which receives support primarily from the KNU and one that is primarily supported by the Burma/Myanmar government.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-10-30
Date of entry/update: 2014-12-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 185 KB
more
Description: This Situation Update describes events occurring in Lu Thaw Township, Hpapun District, during the period between March and May 2014, including Tatmadaw activities, landmines, and the situation regarding civilian livelihoods, health care and education.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2014-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2014-11-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 186.94 KB
more
Description: Conclusion: "...This memorandum describes a Myanmar military counterinsurgency offensive that involved the widespread targeting of civilians in northern Kayin State and eastern Bago Division. Myanmar Army soldiers fired mortars at villages, opened fire on fleeing villagers, destroyed homes, laid landmines in civilian locations, forced villagers to work and porter, and captured and executed civilians. The impact on the population was massive. Tens of thousands of individuals were displaced during the campaign and many were killed. In Thandaung Township—the area which was the focus of the Clinic?s investigation—nearly every village was affected by the Offensive and almost all of the villagers residing in black areas were forced to flee. Evidence collected by the Clinic during the investigation demonstrates that the actions of Myanmar Army personnel during the Offensive constitute crimes under international criminal law. These crimes include the war crimes of attacking civilians, displacing civilians, destroying or seizing the enemy?s property, pillage, murder, execution without due process, torture, and outrages upon personal dignity, and the crimes against humanity of forcible transfer of a population, murder, enslavement, torture, and other inhumane acts. The Clinic has also collected evidence relevant to the war crime of rape, as well as the crimes against humanity of rape and persecution. More research and analysis is necessary to determine whether these crimes could be included in a criminal case associated with the Offensive..."
Source/publisher: International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School
2014-11-05
Date of entry/update: 2014-11-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 850.42 KB
more
Description: "...The incident occurred on October 15th 2012 in Htee Th?Daw Hta village tract, Bu Tho Township, Papun District, when Saw P--- allowed his cow to graze on a vehicle road that had been closed by Saw Pah Mee, a Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Commander. Upon encountering Saw P--- in the area under his control, Commander Saw Pah Mee blindfolded, punched, and left Saw P--- tied up overnight, as well as shooting one of his cows. The incident report also mentions the violent abuse of a Muslim villager, Saw L---, by Border Guard Commander #1014 Commander Maw Nee Hseh; details of this incident were described by the same community member in a previously published report: "Papun Situation Update: Bu Tho and Dwe Lo townships, September to December 2012," KHRG, March 2013..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2013-04-01
Date of entry/update: 2013-05-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 273.98 KB
more
Description: "To mark International Mine Awareness Day, Karen Human Rights Group published new data collected by community members in eastern Burma that describes the ongoing devastation caused by landmines. Each year the United Nations International Mine Awareness Day draws attention to the global impact of landmines and notes progress towards their eradication. Landmines continue to disrupt the potential for civilians to return to their way of life even after the conflict has subsided. Old landmines pose serious restrictions on villagers? ability to travel safely or resume farming and reconstruction of previously abandoned homes. Fatalities and injuries to people and livestock occur frequently, especially when there is no prior knowledge of the mined areas, making displaced communities particularly vulnerable."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2013-04-09
Date of entry/update: 2013-04-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: This report includes a situation update submitted to KHRG in January 2013 by a community member describing events occurring in Nyaunglebin District during the period between November 2012 and January 2013. Specifically, it describes the confiscation of more than 2375.14 acres of villagers? land by Tatmadaw Infantry Battalion #60. One villager was required by Light Infantry Battalion #264 soldiers to collect 250,000 kyat per month from the villagers who operate gold ore processing machines. The community member also describes how, despite the January 2012 ceasefire being in effect, the Tatmadaw continues to increase resupply missions in the area, which has created alarm amongst local civilians. As part of a CIDKP pilot project, 173 sacks of rice have been distributed to Muh Theh villagers. The community member reports that there was an increase in medical care in the area, where Tatmadaw medics travelled with armed soldiers to three towns in KNU-controlled areas in Kyauk Kyi Township, while FBR medics travelled with unarmed KNLA soldiers to Tatmadaw-controlled areas. In response to the land confiscation, villagers? reported their complaints by submitting a letter to the Burma government, however, no response had been received as of January.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2013-04-09
Date of entry/update: 2013-04-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 1.53 MB
more
Description: "This report includes a situation update submitted to KHRG in November 2012 by a community member describing events occurring in Papun District, during the period between July 2012 to October 2012. It specifically discusses forced labour, torture, the activity of major armed groups in the Bu Tho Township area, including the KNLA, DKBA, Tatmadaw and BGF, as well as villagers? healthcare, education and livelihood problems. The report describes how BGF Battalion #1014, led by Commander Maw Hsee, continues to demand materials and forced labour from villagers in order to build army camps. The report also provides details about a 50-year-old L--- villager, named Maung P---, who was arrested and tortured by the Tatmadaw Military Operation Command Column #2, which is under Battalion #44 and commanded by Hay Tha and Aung Thu Ra, because he asked other villagers to deliver a letter that the Tatmadaw demanded he deliver. The report includes information about the different challenges villagers face in Burma government and non-government controlled areas, as well as the ways villagers access healthcare from the KNU or the Burma government. According to the community member, civilians continue to face problems with their livelihood, which are caused by BGF and DKBA activities, but are improving since the ceasefire; also described are problems faced by villagers caused by natural factors, such as unhealthy crops and flooding. In order to improve crop health, farmers are using traditional remedies, but the community member mentions that those remedies do not address the problems well. Moreover, this report mentions how villagers pursue alternative livelihoods during intervals between farming and to cope with food shortages, including logging and selling wood..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2013-04-11
Date of entry/update: 2013-04-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 271.21 KB
more
Description: "This report includes a situation update submitted to KHRG in January 2013 by a community member, who describes events occurring in Papun District during December 2012. Specific abuses include arbitrary arrest of a villager by a KNLA officer, Border Guard demands for money, labour, and items, religious discrimination by the Border Guard and a Buddhist monk, violent abuse, looting and movement restrictions through road closures. The community member reports how one KNLA Commander named Saw Hpah Mee arrested and tortured villager Saw M---, as well as shooting one of his cows, while Saw M--- was travelling to trade cows in Bu Tho Township, on the Thailand-Burma border, but was unaware that the road he used was closed. This report also describes how Border Guard Battalion #1014 soldiers arrested a Muslim villager who was selling his cows on the Thai border, and subsequently looted his money, and how Border Guard Battalion #1013 soldiers forced villagers to work for them and restricting them from trading. Also described in the report is a meeting held on September 10th 2012, during which a Buddhist monk informed villagers of four rules that were created to prohibit Buddhists from interacting with Muslims, which were distributed by the Border Guard. Villagers then reported this to the KNLA and the Tatmadaw, who subsequently held a meeting regarding the rules and explained that religious discrimination should not happen. Details on the incident are published in "Incident Report: Religious discrimination and restrictions in Papun District, September 2012," KHRG, March 2013.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2013-03-08
Date of entry/update: 2013-03-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 164.66 KB
more
Description: "This report includes a situation update submitted to KHRG in November 2012 by a community member describing events occurring in Lu Thaw Township, Papun District during the period between July 2012 and November 2012. It describes how the Tatmadaw continues to resupply and repair military infrastructure despite ongoing ceasefire talks with the KNU, as well as make new preparations for gold extraction projects. The Tatmadaw also tried to build relations with civilians by providing free food placed beside vehicle roads, but fears of poisoned food and mistrust prevented the civilians from accepting the food. On March 19th 2012, soldiers from the Tatmadaw LID #66 killed two villagers, 30 year-old Saw K--- and 19 year-old Saw E---, and injured one, 28 year-old Saw N---, when they crossed a road in K?Kyay Hta; the Tatmadaw took the 160,000 kyat that the victims were carrying. The civilians in the internally displaced persons areas still do not dare to show themselves to the Tatmadaw, and continue to monitor troop movement along vehicle roads. The situation update also discusses villagers? concerns regarding the ceasefire, describing how civilians want peace so that they can return to work on their land. Currently, heavy rains in 2011 and crop maladies have caused food security problems for many communities. In response, communities support one another with food transportation and use of traditional medicine cooperatives, which are still developing local involvement and action plans..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2013-02-25
Date of entry/update: 2013-03-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 409.63 KB
more
Description: This report includes a situation update submitted to KHRG in June 2012 by a community member describing events occurring in Papun District, during June 2012. Specifically discussed are Nay Pyi Daw military operations along Papun-Ka? Ma Moo vehicle road. It includes details on the location and names of the different NPD military camps that are based along the Papun-K?Ma Moh vehicle road.
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2012-10-12
Date of entry/update: 2012-11-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 251.44 KB
more
Description: "This report includes a situation update submitted to KHRG in June 2012 by a community member describing events occurring in Papun District, during the period between March and June 2012. Specifically described is the location of Tatmadaw operations in the twelve village tracts inside the Northern Lu Thaw Township, and the living conditions of the villagers from those village tracts. This report details military activities, such as sending rations and repairing bridges, and it also includes concerns the villagers have related to the military?s activities and the permanence of the 2012 ceasefire. Other detailed information about the livelihood, healthcare, education, and the responsive strategies of the villagers, is also provided."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2012-09-05
Date of entry/update: 2012-11-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 268.93 KB
more
Description: "This report includes a situation update submitted to KHRG in April 2012 by a community member trained by KHRG describing events occurring in Bu Tho Township, Papun District, prior to April 2012. It contains updated information concerning an increase in Tatmadaw and Border Guard military activity since the January 2012 ceasefire agreement with the KNU, including more frequent transportation of rations, building materials and weapons, and an increase in troop deployment. It describes how Tatmadaw LIB #341, #434, #340, and #642 have established permanent bases by the Papun vehicle road, and how troops reportedly remain stationed at numerous bases along the Thailand-Burma border. Land confiscation for infrastructure projects and the construction of military bases and plantations is highlighted as a significant issue, and continued natural resource extraction also serves to limit the amount of cultivatable land available. State-led development projects at the village level are also cited as contributing to land confiscation as a result of demands for land from government officials involved. Information is also provided on the construction of a new village in Meh Pree Township by a monk in command of approximately 20-30 soldiers. Villagers continue to face demands for food and goods, such as thatch shingles, and demands for forced labour. Significantly, demands for money, or for villagers to serve as soldiers and guides or to perform sentry duty, has reportedly ceased, and there has been a reduction in travel restrictions since January 2012. Some limited landmine clearance is reported to have occurred after villagers discussed the problem with a Tatmadaw officer. Other villagers have adapted to the reduction of suitable farmland by trading livestock and transporting food to sell. Villagers also refused to comply with demands for land in exchange for electricity, and confronted officials over the issue."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2012-06-06
Date of entry/update: 2012-07-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 891.92 KB
more
Description: "During the first three months after the January 2012 ceasefire between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burma government, villagers in Thaton, Nyaunglebin and Papun districts have raised concerns about Tatmadaw activity related to resupply operations, troop reinforcements and the transport of heavy artillery. LID #44 soldiers were deployed for road security purposes during military resupply operations at the end of January along the Bilin riverbank in Thaton District, while further north in Nyaunglebin District, LIB #702 transported rations, mortars and troop reinforcements, while Tatmadaw soldiers burned the vehicle road near three army camps. In Papun District, the vehicle road was repaired in early February before Tatmadaw soldiers transported supplies and troop reinforcements to camps in the area around Wa Klee Koo. The restricted scope of Tatmadaw operations since the ceasefire negotiations in January has allowed some villagers in Papun District to return to previously abandoned agricultural land. Villagers nonetheless complained of movement restrictions during military resupply operations, and expressed concerns that, because Tatmadaw troops have been reinforced and are now well-supplied, they will be in an advantageous position if the current ceasefire is broken."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2012-05-31
Date of entry/update: 2012-06-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 580.83 KB
more
Description: "Civilians in Dooplaya District continue to be impacted by conflict between the Tatmadaw and armed Karen groups, who have increased fighting in the area since November 7th 2010. The situation around Palu village remains highly unstable; in order to avoid conflict and conflict-related abuse, civilians are moving frequently between their homes and fields, more secure locations outside the village and along the Moei River, and both official and unofficial locations in Thailand?s Phop Phra District. Residents of the community have told KHRG that they believe male villagers face a serious threat of being forcibly recruited as porters to support re-supply operations of Tatmadaw units deployed in the area, and that men in Palu are actively avoiding encountering Tatmadaw troops."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2010-12-04
Date of entry/update: 2012-02-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 301.36 KB
more
Description: "The following incident report was written by a villager trained by KHRG to document human rights abuses, and details an incident that occurred in May 2011 during which Tatmadaw soldiers from LIB #216 arrested four villagers in Bilin Township, including two village headwomen, and forced them to accompany troops on active patrol. The two village headwomen told the villager who wrote this report that the Tatmadaw soldiers did not provide them with water nor allow them to return to their own village at night, forcing them to sleep in a monastery with the soldiers. One of the women said that the Tatmadaw soldiers told her that they were afraid they were going to be shot at by KNLA soldiers at the time she was forced to accompany them. The following morning, the four villagers successfully negotiated with the Tatmadaw commanding officers to secure their release and received 8,000 kyat (US $ 10.39) split unevenly between the four of them as compensation."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2012-01-19
Date of entry/update: 2012-01-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "This report includes a situation update submitted to KHRG in September 2011 by a villager describing events and military activities occurring in Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District, during the period between August and September 2011. The villager describes the shelling of civilian areas by DKBA troops resulting in the destruction of a villager?s house, and villagers? fears of violence by DKBA forces following the defection of a DKBA soldier to Tatmadaw Border Guard troops and his transport through the area around their community. The report also details demands for payment issued by KNU/KNLA Peace Council soldiers; discusses the death of a KNU/KNLA Peace Council officer by natural causes; and raises villagers? concerns about the flooding of bean and corn plantations along the Moei River at the beginning of September which resulted in destruction of farmers? seeds and crops."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2011-12-09
Date of entry/update: 2012-01-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: While Myanmar?s generals held their stage-managed elections, an ethnic rebel group forcibly seized control of two border towns and highlighted immediately the polls? ineffectiveness at achieving national reconciliation. Government forces on Tuesday forced the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) out of Myawaddy and Pyathounzu towns, but the attacks already had significant repercussions for the transition from military to civilian rule.
Creator/author: Brian McCartan
Source/publisher: Asia Times Online
2010-11-16
Date of entry/update: 2010-11-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more