In Toungoo District the Burma Army continues to conduct frequent attacks and patrols designed to terrorize the population, making it impossible for villagers to stay in their homes and work in their fields. These attacks are sustained with the use of widespread forced civilian labor and extortion.

Burma Army rapes and murders woman, kills deaf man, captures and kills two others

On 12 May, 2007 Burma Army soldiers from LIB 542 and 544 attacked the Ber Ka Lay Ko village area of northern Toungoo District, northwestern Karen State, Eastern Burma. It was reported that during the attack they captured a woman from Ber Ka Lay Ko village. They then raped and murdered her. A relief team is now investigating this report.

On 15 May, Burma Army LIB 542 attacked villagers working in their farms. Many villagers were able to flee because they could hear the Burma Army troops making noise as they approached, however one man, Saw Hsar Mee, 55, was deaf and was unable to hear the attacking troops. The Burma Army then shot and killed him in his field house.

They also captured Saw Kwa Kwa, 20, who was in his field planting rice. Villagers nearby fled when they heard the Burma Army troops were in the area. KNLA soldiers responded to this attack, trying to protect villagers as they fled and give them time to collect belongings. After fighting took place between the Burma Army and KNLA, the Burma Army executed Saw Kwa Kwa. Saw Kwa Kwa was from Glay Kee village.

The Burma Army also shot and killed Saw Mu Der, 36, on the same day. Details about his death are not yet known.

During the attack on the 12th the Burma Army also captured six men; Saw Tha Wa, 34, Saw Bu Doh, 40, Saw Maw Ku, 60, Saw Hsa Ma, 55, Saw Mee Maw, 34, and Saw Ah Day, 28.

These troops also attacked Maw Tu Der village, capturing two men; Saw Hay Blu and Saw Tay Maw, 37. One day earlier the Burma Army had captured three villagers from Wah Soe village; Saw L’Mo, 44, Saw Blu Kwe, 57, and Saw Nyat Gay Htoo, 42. Three people from Oo Per village were also captured; Saw Has Nyee, 29, Saw Ku Nu, 40, and Saw Tha Kywa, 48.

LIB 542 is under the command of Hla Tun.

Villagers Killed By Mortars

On 5 April at 2:00 p.m., Burma Army LIB 346 mortared Sha Zi Bo village and killed Saw Gay Moon. Injured in this attack were Saw Mu Dai; Naw Dai Mu Poe, 26 years old; Saw Eah Doh, 19 years old; and Saw Eh Poe. 24 years old; Saw Eh Poe’s 2-year-old daughter also died. Earlier that day, they fired on Maung Tay Der village and injured Saw Disco, 20 years old.

LIB 346 also forced each household from Wa Toe Koh and Ler Ko villages to send one person to work, or pay 1000 kyat.

During this time these troops also burned fields in the Maung Tay Der and May Daw Koh areas. 500 acres, including 60 acres of cardamom plants, were destroyed. In Kaw Thay Der the Burma Army burned 82 acres of cardamom plants.

Destroyed Fields, Forced Labor

From 7 April to 10 April Burma Army LIB 375 burned three gardens and six fields of cardamom in Play Hsa Lo Village. In Paung Pai Village, they destroyed 7 gardens and 8 fields of cardamom.

On 11 April, these same troops forced 70 villagers to carry rations to Ba Ya Nay Thi camp and then return to Play Hsa Lo army camp. The villagers were from Play Hsa Lo, Yaw Lo, Paung Plaw Baw Der, and Paung Pai villages.

LIB 375 is from TOC 2, under MOC 9; its battalion commander is Tun Aung Sar, second battalion commander is Tun Tun Win and company commander is Soe Myiet Naing.

From March to April, Burma Army column 2 from BA LIB 372 burned 62 fruit plots in Se Keh Der area. LIB 372 is from TOC 1, under MOC 5.

Thousands forced to carry rations

On 15 May, Burma Army MOC 5 commander Khaung Mya, who is now in the Bawgali Gyi area, ordered people from the following villages to carry Burma Army rations from Bawgali Gyi to their camp at Maung Koe Der.

1) Kaw Thay Der
2) Kaw Soe Ko
3) Bawgali Gyi
4) Ler Gaw
5) Maung Pah Der

On the same day, people from the following villages were forced to carry rations from Maung Pai Der to Koe Wa Der camps.

6) Pai Kaw Der,
7) Ku Plaw Der,
8) Maung Koe Der,
9) Der Doh,
10) Ba Hai Der,
11) Naw Tay Der and
12) Ger Mu Der*

The following day, The same villages were forced to carry rations from Bawgali Gyi to the camps at Ber Ka Lay Ko and Wah Soe. More than 2,000 people were forced to carry rations on the 16th.

The Burma Army is attacking villages, and engaging in widespread forced labor, extortion and severely restricting villager movement.

Villagers are now subject to daily forced labor and extortion in the Burma Army’s attempt to consolidate and strengthen its control over villages in areas it occupies as well as launch new attacks against the thousands of civilians who continue to evade its control. Approximately 4,500 villagers remain in hiding in the mountains of Mon Township. The Burma Army is using civilian forced labor to build new camps and roads and to re-supply existing camps.

Hundreds Flee Recent Attacks:

On 30 April 2007, troops from Burma Army LIBs 212 and 220 attacked Tah Ho Aw village in Kyauk Kyi Township, Nyaunglebin District, destroying the village as well as property that had been hidden in the jungle surrounding the village. The strength of the attacking troops was approximately 60 men, or two companies. Battalions 212 and 220 are under Light Infantry Division 11 and this column was under the command of Captain Than Htwe.

On 3 May, these same troops attacked the village of Ler Wah , also destroying all of the property they found in the village.

On 28 April, the Burma Army attacked the village of Yaw Kee (lat/long. N 18 42 33 E 096 54 40), in northern Mon Township. Troops burned down and destroyed farm huts surrounding the village. More than 150 people fled into hiding in fear of further attacks. One woman who fled was lost for two days in the jungle. Villagers have been unable to farm because of continued patrols and periodic shelling of areas the Burma Army suspects villagers may be hiding.

Photo: Yaw Kee villager searching ruins of his field house

Photo: Yaw Kee villager examining the paddy rice destroyed when the Burma Army burned down his rice barn.

Photo: Naw Xx Xxx, lost for two days in the jungle.

Photo: Burma Army bullet-hole in the wall of a field house in the Yaw Kee Area.

Photo: Yaw Kee villagers receiving medical treatment from relief teams.

These small scale attacks have been launched throughout 2007 from new camps built during the Burma Army’s offensive in 2006. The Burma Army continues to heavily supply all forward camps using civilian labor, civilian vehicles and horses or mules. There are now more than 4,000 people hiding from these attacks in Mon Township.

Over 1,000 Forced to Clear Road:

Forced labor in areas under SPDC military control is widespread. On 7 May, approximately 1,000 villagers from more than six villages were forced to clear a new road between the Burma Army camp at Toe Daw and the camp at Yin O Sein. 164 villagers from Myaung Oo, Aung Chan Tha and Paw Pi Der villages were forced to clear the road and hundreds more from the villages of Myaw Oo, Mee Te Taw, Tee To Lo, and Kyauk Tan. The combined population of the area of these villages is about 10,000 people. One villager from Ta Kaw Pwa village tract described how this new road was built right across villagers’ rice fields, destroying about 500 acres of crops. The villages of Myaung Oo, Aung Chan Tha and Paw Pi Der must pay 30,000 Kyat to LIB 590 every month. LIB 599 and LIB 590 are currently posted at these two camps and are overseeing the construction of this road.

Photo: Villagers who have been forced to provide the Burma Army with thatch roofing.

Villagers are also being forced to cut wood and bamboo for use in Burma Army camps. Villagers have been forced to provide the Burma Army with food to feed Burma Army livestock, as well as build pig pens and chicken coops, and maintain gardens that will feed the Burma Army troops. The Burma Army has also been forcing villagers to purchase livestock from them, charging 1,800 Kyat for a chicken, when the regular price in the area is 800 Kyat.

Photo: villagers describe life under the Burma Army

On 9 April, Burma Army LIB 590 forced local villagers to use their own bullock carts to move rations to their camp at Kwee De Kaw. Villagers were helping to push one of the bullock carts when a landmine exploded, wounding 5 villagers. We initially reported this incident in April. Since then, the Burma Army has not provided any compensation to the five villagers or provided them with medicine or medical treatment.

Burma Army LIB 380 is now based at Kwee De Kaw army camp and is under the command of Yen win. The Burma Army camp at Myaung Oo is under Sergeant Major Tin Hto Aung, the camp at Mee Te Taw is under Sergeant Major Tin Aung, and the camp at Yin Oh Sein us under Battalion commander Maung Maung.

The Burma Army is also restricting the movement of villagers. Villagers in many areas are only allowed to go to their farms and orchards two times a week, making it impossible to sufficiently care for their crops. Villagers have reported the loss of large amounts of plants such as Durian, Betel Nut and Cardamom. Villages that have reported this restriction are:

1) Maw Ke’tha per ko
2) Yu lo
3) Kamulo
4) Ker Poh Der
5) Saw Tay Der
6) Kyauk Pyat
7) Thay Baw Der
8) Yaw Kee

Many villagers have not permitted to build farm huts in their fields, and have been told that any huts found will be destroyed and villagers found in field huts or in the jungle will be shot. Beginning in March, villagers in the plains area between the Sittang River and the mountains to the east are being forced to act as informants. They have been forced to build numerous security huts from Mon to Shwey Gyin, and are to report on any strangers or suspicious activity. Any villager on duty who does not report all activity faces a fine. Every village must send people to man these posts.

Villagers are now facing a food crisis and suffer from a lack of health care and education because of the difficulty of complying with Burma Army demands.

In Papun District, the Burma Army continues to attack villages and IDP populations, now focusing on an area where they are constructing a new road. If completed, this road will effectively quarter northern Karen State, enhancing the Burma Army’s ability to attack villagers, and making travel extremely difficult for both civilians and those trying to provide humanitarian relief. More than 4,000 people remain in hiding after the Burma Army attacked the Kay Pu area in late April. Hundreds more have joined them as a result of recent attacks.

Burma Army Kills Woman and Attacks Village:

On 17 May, Burma Army troops killed Naw Bu Ru, 27, who was in her field cutting weeds and grass in the Pana Eh Per Ko area of Papun District. Burma Army troops then burned Naw Bu Ru’s body in her field house along with seven other field houses. The Burma Army unit which conducted this attack is not yet known.

Also on 17 May, the two Burma Army battalions entered the Htee Mu Kee area. One column attacked and entered the village, while the other column remained on top of a nearby hill, mortaring villagers as they fled. No injuries were reported.

On 7 May at 11:30 Burma Army soldiers based out of Wah Klei Tu camp in northern Papun District attacked Day Bu Plaw village in the Yu Gaw Kee area. They burned down four houses in the village. These houses belonged to:

Saw Xxx Xxxx Xx
Saw Xxx Xxx
Saw Yay Kaw Mu
Saw Lah Sheh

ENDS