More atrocities by Army reported

Human Rights

More atrocities by Army reported

S.H.A.N. source from southern Shan State, confirming the report by a Shan commander on 29 September, Army goes on rampage, on the ongoing search-and-destroy operation in Laikha township, 79 miles from Taunggyi, has added further details:
Six villagers, one woman and five men, arrested on 28 September, by Mongpan-based Light Infantry Battalion 332, were all released later, though one, Sai Oong, 27, had yet to show up at his home village in Loilam. "His head was wrapped up with a plastic bag and pounded," said the source who wished to be unnamed. "Dissatisfied by his answers, they then rolled a rod on his shins while singeing him with wax from a burning candle."

The other victims were identified as Hsarng Leng, male, 25; Wizingda, male, 58; Sai Kawn, male; Sai Lam, male; and Nang Nu, female.

Four more incidents were reported as follows:

• On 1 October, two men, Zingna, 47, and Sai Noom, 42, of Terh Leng, were detained and beaten by the same battalion to extract information. They were released the next day, following an appeal from the village elders.

• On 2 October, three men, Loong Hsu, 50; Sai Hsu, 35; and Wiling, 26, of Wan Pook, Haihseng village tract, who were working in their fields were detained and beaten by the same battalion on suspicion of having connections with the rebels. They were released afterwards following an appeal by the village elders.

• Another three men from Kang-oon, Nawngkaw tract: Sai Myint Awng, 27; Nantaw, 20; and Dawna, 18, also underwent similar plight at the hands of the same battalion on the same day. They were set free only when the elders paid 15,000 kyat and a live pig.

• Meanwhile, on the same day, two other villagers Sai Pa, 22, and Tayza, 15, of Pang-ngu, Wang Mong tract, Mongkerng township, 29 miles further north, were shot to death by a patrol from the Langkher-based Light Infantry Battalion 525, commanded by Maj Htun Htun, while they were working in their fields.

The source claimed excesses perpetrated by the Burma Army still continued. S.H.A.N. correspondents on the border, however, were unable to confirm the reports. "It will take days and sometimes weeks, before sources from the Mongkerng-Laikha area are able to reach us," said King Cobra, who is based in the Chaiprakarn-Fang-Mae Ai districts, facing Mongton and Monghsat, transit townships for refugees coming to Thailand.