Red Cross visits Shan area 4th time

Red Cross visits Shan area 4th time

Human Rights

Apparently determined to prove repeated visits would create what is termed by its Burma representative Michel Ducraux as "a preventive protection effect", a 7 person International Committee of Red Cross crew has arrived in a Shan township, notorious for its poor human rights situation, for the 4th time yesterday, reported both rebel and border sources. 

According to Lt-Col Mongzuen, Commander of Brigade 758, Shan State Army, that operates north of the Taunggyi-Namzang highway, villages lying north and east of Laikha, 79 miles northeast of Taunggyi, the state capital, have already been warned by the local authorities not to welcome the "World Red Cross". "Villagers known to be approachable were already told to go 'on leave' from their homes," he said on the phone. 

According to Shan refugees reaching Thailand's Chiangmai border areas, they were threatened with dire consequences "to speak the truth" about the military's excesses. Two were reported to be beaten until they were "bathed in blood" from head to toes after the ICRC's second visit in January. At least another two were taken away from their homes by "Shan rebels who spoken fluent Burmese but pidgin Shan" never to be seen again after its third visit in June. These had led to several families abandoning their homes and fields to start a new life along the border. (The first visit was in November 2002.) 

According to border sources, the Burmese military has already alerted all units in the area to closely keep track of the visitors, the local people who might talk to them and the Shan State Army "South" of Col Yawdserk. 

"Moengzuen is said to be away from Laikha," said a source who is monitoring the event. "But he has assigned Captain Htoi, a close aide, to look after the Red Cross team."