No.15 - 02/2006
22 February 2006

Human Rights

Monks are porters on the Karenni front

Monks detained at Insein prison are being used as porters in the Burma Army's ongoing campaign against the Karenni guerrillas, west of Maehongson, reports border-based Kantarawaddy Times on Monday (20 February).

One of them, Reverend Dhamma Dhaza aka Soe Win, along with 4 lay porters, has recently made a successful escape to the border. Two other monks are still with the Dimawso-based Light Infantry Battalion 427, he says. "I was with the (Loikaw-based Infantry Battalion) 250," he told Kantarawaddy Times.

Rev Dhamma Dhaza and two other monks were arrested on 9 December while they were trying to mediate between the police and 5 youths at the Hlaing Thaya religious festival in Rangoon. The three are from Dhamma Thuka temple, Natshauk Ward, Tamwe township.

According to him, some 1,000 - 2,000 monks are being imprisoned at Insein.