FORCED LABOUR AND EXTORTION IN KENGTUNG

FORCED LABOUR AND EXTORTION IN KENGTUNG

On June 8 1995, Loong Sai (a villager form Yang Kha village) led SLORC No.244 IB from Kengtung to Murng Puk circle, Kengtung township, and ordered people in the area to saw 200 tons of (6?8)(3?5)(12ft long) timber from them. All able-bodied men had to put aside their other work and work for them. Families who had no males, or were unable to go because of ill health, were fined 3,000 k/- per family. All the timber had to be floated downstream to Yorng Kha village. Later the water dried up and 10 pieces of timber were left stranded. The SLORC troops and Loong Sai forced the villagers to buy the timber and filled their own pockets. 

On July 7 1995, the same Loong Sai and SLORC No.244 asked people in Murng Puk area to cut wood to make 270 lamp posts; they would be paid 250 k/- for each. The posts had to be floated downstream to a Lahu village at the main road 30 miles away. Instead of paying what they had promised, they even fined those families who had no men to represent them 2,000 k/- each. 

On October 18 1995, SLORC No.244 Kengtung forced people in Murng Puk area, Kengtung township to buy mules for them, on mule per village. The following five villages: (1) Tong Long village (2) Kho Ken Na Noi village (3) Pung Sai village (4) Wan Ping village (5) Wan Urm village, had to collect money among themselves, 6-700,000 k/- per village, and buy five mules. The SLORC then forced the villagers to change any mule not up to their satisfaction. The villagers had to feed and look after the mules and also had to serve as muleteers. Those who could not go were fined 200k/- per day. If any of the mules fell sick, people had to buy a new one for the soldiers. This has been going on up to the present. 

On October 18, 1995, Sai Kum, age 31, son of Loong Zing and Nang Leng, who live in Wan Ping, Kengtung, went to buy a horse at Pang Nim village. On his way home he met some troops from SLORC IB No.246 form Kung Hing. They accused him of stealing an army horse and arrested him and beat him until he bled all over. They took 12,000 K/- from him, and he was released only when he had taken them to the man he had bought the horse from and explained the matter. But the 12,000 K/- was not returned by the soldiers.