Burma Army Captures Karen Villagers and Steals Cattle in Dooplaya District, Karen State

On 26 January 2014, three Burma Army soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 549, commanded by U Thaugn Htut, stopped and captured seven Karen villagers. The soldiers are based at the Burma Army Camp in Law Naw Village, Win Ye Township, Dooplaya District, Karen State.

The Karen villagers were leading their cattle from Mae Klu Village through Si Law Blerh, approximately two miles from Lay Naw village, when the three Burma Army soldiers stopped them. The villagers were en route to Thailand to sell the 19 cattle. The soldiers forced the villagers and their cows to go to Lay Naw Village. Once they arrived at the village, the soldiers questioned the villagers, and held them into the evening. The commander for the Law Naw Burma Army Camp, U Thaugn Htut, then approached the villagers, and demanded that they give him 1,700,000 Kyat. The villagers did not have that amount  of money, so the Burma Army took three of their cows.

According to local leaders for Law Naw Village, the Burma Army never asked for permission from the local leaders to leave their camp. The leaders also said that the Burma Army had been secretly patrolling the area beyond the their base camp for a week at the time they captured the villagers on 26 January 2014.

Due to these Burma Army activities, local villagers in this area of Win Ye Township are now afraid to do necessary activities, such as gather leaves for their roofs.

Thank you, and may God bless you,

Karen Free Burma Rangers