The First Massacre of the Year in Shan State  62 Killed

The First Massacre of the Year in Shan State 
62 Killed

The junta army, in retaliation against the resistance, has turned on the population and hundreds of people have been killed since last month's resumption of hostilities, according to sources coming across the border into Thailand. Survivors claimed 62 people were mowed down by junta bullets in one spot alone.

Sources, who are traders making a living along the Taunggyi-Tachilek road, told S.H.A.N. that during their stopover in Kali, Kunhing Township, Loilem District, they heard several people talking about the killings south of the road.
According to survivors who escaped the massacres, 62 Shan and hilltribes people, were rounded up, lined up and shot to death on 29 or 30 May. (A different source said it was 23 May)

At least a total of 40-50 people were believed to have been killed in other places, they said. Hsaimong, Hsaharng and Nati, 3 other villages were also mentioned.

A source who was close to Brigade 7 (Shan State Army "North") with their headquarters in Kali confirmed about the killings, and added that many other villagers along the Salween were also killed. (The SSA "North" Brigade 7 was also questioned by Burmese authorities about Yawdserk's SSA "South"'s movements on 24 May, said the source.)

The sources, however, were not sure whether or not the killings were related to the projected dam on the Salween. "But they occurred after fighting between Yawdserk's SSA and the junta troops resumed towards the end of April near Kunhing," they said.

Yawdserk had declared a unilateral ceasefire on 23 January 2000. He complained later that Rangoon troops took advantage of the truce to force many of his units to make separate deals with the junta.

Another traveller who just came back from Kunhing told S.H.A.N. the SSA was attacked on 28 April in Kenglom. The Shans' retaliation on 9 May destroyed 4 trucks, killing 7 and wounding 5, according to the SSA's statement.

N.B. The first massacre occurred on 30 January, killing 19 re-relocated villagters in Keng-Kham, Kunhing. The junta unit responsible was identified as Namzang-based IB 66.

[Reporter: Moeng Zay]