Lent

Lent-observing villagers pay for rebel attack
Human Rights 

Sources inside Shan State reported yesterday ten villagers who were observing Buddhist Lent in the southern town of Kholam were arrested and shot to death after a soldier was killed in a fight on 21 September. 

The ten were seized at midnight at Lookpoong-Namkhiao and shot at Nawng-kai Hill, half a mile west of the temple where they were taken. The raiding party about 40 strong, was led by Captain Pyay Hpyo Way, Commander of a "commando" company under the direct control of Col Hsan Htoon, the area commander in Kunhing, according to the sources. 

"When morning came, the soldiers reappeared, donated 10 sacks of rice and instructed to spread news that the merit-makers were killed by the Shan State Army 'South'," said a source. 

Two novices and 5 more civilians were also taken on the same night at the nearby village of Wan Hpui. They had not been seen or heard since. 

The extra judicial killings were the direct result of an attack by the Shan State Army on the same day, according to the Burmese army. Infantry Battalion #246, commanded by Lt-Col Mya San, suffered one killed and a weapon lost. 
The SSA, while confirming the killings, said it had yet to receive report of the clash. "Kholam is on the Taunggyi- Kengtung highway that divides the operational areas of Brigade 758, commanded by Lt-Col Moengzuen and Brigade 759, commanded by Maj Khamleng, "said Col Khurh-ngern, Chief of Staff of the SSA."It could have been either, or other armed groups in the area. The 246 is much hated by the local people." 

According to Dispossessed: Forced relocation and Extrajudicial killings in Shan State, a report by Shan Human Rights Foundation, IB 246 together with IB 524 had slaughtered at least 265 people during the 1996-98 campaign against the SSA. The campaign displaced at least 1,500 villages and 300,000 people. The confirmed total of people killed during the period was 664, among whom was a Buddhist abbot, who was tied up in a sack and drowned by soldiers. 

Two other massacres in May, 2000, when 83 people were lined up and shot by the said two battalions, were protested by the Shan State Peace Council, the joint setup of Shan State Army "North" and Shan State National Army. Both enjoy truce accord with Rangoon. It is not yet known how the two will react this time. 

"The incident is a clear signal to Shans: for every one soldier killed, 10 civilians will be executed in return," observed a migrant worker in Chiangmai after hearing the news. 

The following are details concerning the victims, who were all male. Ages are approximated. The female lent-observers were however left alone. 

The last three were volunteer attendants for the merit-makers. 

N.B.

12 villagers in Mongkerng were also shot dead in a group who were unable to inform the soldier about the SSA, SHRF September report.