Human Rights Briefs

Human Rights Briefs

Two traders arrested on suspicion - and disappear

Two Shans from Mongton who had been keeping shops in Nakawngmu, roughly halfway between the 51 mile long distance between Mongton and Border Pass-1, were taken into custody on 21 October by Captain Kyaw Thein, Commander, Company 4, LIB 360 (Mongpiang). 

The two were Sai Thein Win, 27, and Sai Aung Win, 25. They were brothers-in-law being married to girls who are sisters. 
"They were beaten in public and taken away," said the source. "Since then their families haven't heard anything about them. They don't even know why they were arrested." 

Forced purchase of paddy

Since mid-October Kengtung Peace and Development Council had been fully occupied with the rice procurement task, reported LNDO, a Chiangmai-based Lahu group. 

Farmers were required to sell 12 baskets of unhulled rice for every acre of their fields at K. 350 per basket rate. The market price is K. 1,300. "Those who fail to comply are threatened with arrest and confiscation of their land," he said. 

Rangoon recently spoke of a need to increase rice exports. 

Update: 

According to Bangkok Post, 1 November, Burma exported 300,000 tons last year, #7 among the rice exporting countries. The others are: 

A lot of 23.26 million tons were exported last year.